Notices for 10th January 2021     Epiphany 1/Baptism of Christ Hello Everyone, Here we are in lockdown again and with local Coivd-19 rates being so high we’ve decided to move all our services on-line. The Bishop is giving us strong encouragement to do this. We cancelled Private Prayer today as the pavements were so slippery and we need to reassess the Risk Assessment before we open next Saturday but we do hope we can. However, we do have a variety of activities set up for the next few weeks and following the success of the New Year’s Eve party by both Zoom and Zoom-phone we hope to have the occasional social or quiz too but meanwhile…… Tomorrow (Sunday) we have our usual 9.30am service of Holy Communion but prior to that we are making Sunday School a live on-line service at 8.30am via zoom. We’ve just had the rehearsal! It will last about 15minutes with an idea for a craft activity to be completed at home after the service. Here’s the link and passcode https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74087847345?pwd=b25mZHdZd0lKVEpFdjZVa1ZTMkNndz09 Meeting ID: 740 8784 7345 Passcode: 112233 All being well (!) it will be available later in the day on our YouTube channel. We’ve got a communal viewing of the second part of the Animated Nativity which includes the shepherds and kings next Saturday at 4pm. It lasts about 10 minutes. We’ll also show the revealing of the completed arch from the Tapestry Project which lasts about 6 minutes. Make yourselves a cup of tea and sit down and enjoy. We’ll use the usual link for Sunday mornings. Home is where the arch is… The magazine detailing all the tapestry pieces can be seen here https://woollymammothstitch.works/home-is-where-the-arch-is-northfield-revealed/ Between now and Lent we are also introducing an opportunity to look at the Bible Readings for the ‘Sunday-coming-up’ for about 45 minutes on Thursdays at 4pm with a couple of the ministry team. If any who work during the day feel they are missing out, we can put on an evening session too! Just drop an e-mail to Revd Theresa. theresa.curate@gmail.com The theme for the photo montages to go with our hymns is ‘The Baptism of Christ’ Next week it is ‘trees’ as Jesus saw Nathaniel under the fig tree! Send in a pdf or photo - ideally landscape - to  peterm435@gmail.com with the topic in the subject line by 4pm Thursday. A few ‘Thank Yous’ to * all who took out ‘Christmas Goody Parcels’ on behalf of Churches Together in Northfield. It was quite a logistical exercise but went pretty much to plan. * from the ministry team for our many Christmas Cards. * all who have contributed to our ‘Christingle’ appeal for the Children’s Society. The total is now at £179.46 so not much more needed to beat our target of £200. Here’s the link : https://thyg.uk/CUS050497 If you have a Children’s Society Box you can empty the box yourself THEN use the link to get the money to them (but please let Anne Stock know that you have done this and how much you donated in this way e-mail annestock789@btinternet.com) We discovered this week that the Post Office on Middlemore Road will take bagged up coins and they were very glad of our copper as they were short! May God keep us all safe in body, mind and soul at this challenging time. Blessings Can Jan For your Prayers Those who are ill Pat Turner, gradually recovering from arm surgery following her fall from her bike in the summer. Vicki Reeves, in a lot of pain. Some of you will remember the Revd (now Canon) John Barnett and his wife Janice. They have now retired and are living in Alvechurch. Janice had a lumpectomy recently. The operation went well but they are waiting for the results of the biopsy. John is being treated for myeloma (cancer of the blood), pills and jabs, which will be followed sometime in the autumn by a transplant of his own stem cells. This should lead to full remission, but until then he will need to shield. Those who have died Emily Penstone: funeral was 6th January in church. Pauline Jones: funeral 18th January at Lodge Hill May they rest in peace and rise in Glory. Community News  The Community Hotline continues via Northfield Community Partnership … but has changed its number to 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.   Northfield Food Service continues into 2021 offering a hot meal delivered to your door every Thursday teatime. especially those who are struggling to feed their families, have health needs, are frail or self-isolating. You can make referrals (including self-referrals) for hot meals via phone 07385 920694 or northfieldfoodservice@gmail.com Please leave your name, address, phone number, how many people in the household and any dietary requirements. If you notice any fly tipping, graffiti or litter in your area you can request it to be cleared up on https://www.fixmystreet.com/ Anxiety, stress and other mental-health needs….. Mind is offering an increasing amount of help via the telephone 0121 262 3555 (24/7) They also offer ‘Time Online’ – new webchat via https://birminghammind.org/ as well as mindfulness groups online, recovery sessions, walking groups including a men’s group. Covid Update Local rates are now very high with Northfield in the ‘top ten’ wards and Longbridge/West Heath even higher. Please do take great care when out and about and if a shop looks busy think twice about going in. If you are offered an appointment for a vaccination please make it your highest priority (even if you are down to preach at that time!) Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has launched a COVID-19 vaccination resource website. Click here to visit it. On it is everything you need to know about the coronavirus vaccines, including their effectiveness, your eligibility and how they are administered: there is even a video showing the process from start to finish. Alongside this information is a handy list of FAQs, which may prove useful when answering queries in your community. HOWEVER do watch out for a fake text message claiming to be from the NHS claiming you are eligible to apply for the vaccine and will include a link 'to apply'. The link takes you to a fake NHS website and asks you for payment and other personal details. Remember to remain vigilant and remember that the NHS will never ask for payment for the vaccine. Do not respond to the text message or click on any links. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726. This free-of-charge short code enables your provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious. Services and meetings for this week One of the ministers says Morning Prayer alone in church Tuesday-Saturday Services and Meetings this week Links and Meeting IDs Sunday  8.30am Sunday School Service By zoom and available later on YouTube 9.30am Holy Communion By zoom and zoom-phone and available later on YouTube https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74087847345?pwd=b25mZHdZd0lKVEpFdjZVa1ZTMkNndz09 Meeting ID: 740 8784 7345 Passcode: 112233 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84533030134 Meeting ID: 845 3303 0134 Monday 5pm Evening Prayer https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 Tuesday 10am Gridiron ‘Coffee’ 5pm Evening Prayer Contact Stuart & Chris Andrew 0121 628 0425 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 Conference Call only Thursday 4pm – 4.45pm An invitation to look at Sunday’s Readings together 5pm Evening Prayer https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 As above Saturday 10am – 11.30am Private prayer 4pm Communal Viewing of the Animated Nativity created by Fr David and lots of others. In church (subject to revised risk assessment!) Normal Sunday Link 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 1. 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: Monday 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