St Laurence Northfield April – May 2023 Registered Charity 1132975 Holy Week and Easter Services See overleaf for the full set of services. There is so much to be gained by walking the week together in church. It makes the Easter Sunday ‘Alleluias’ that much more joyous if we walk the way of the cross and realise anew that Jesus’ Passion, death and resurrection are for us personally. Please note that the 11.30am service on Easter Sunday will be a said Eucharist though we may sing a few hymns. It is aimed at adults. On Easter Sunday we will return to using the ‘Common Cup’ at Holy Communion. Those administering the wine will turn the cup between each person and also endeavour to use a fresh part of the purificator to wipe it carefully. If you do not wish to receive the wine or feel at all unwell please receive the bread only and then return to your place. It is the teaching of the Church that the full graces of Communion are conveyed even if we only receive Communion in one kind. It is no longer permitted for individuals to intinct (dip) the wafer in the chalice. Farewell to the Revd Theresa Morton Revd Theresa has probably had one of the strangest curacies ever due to being ordained both deacon and priest during the pandemic and ministering during various degrees of lockdown. Nevertheless, she quickly became established as a minister amongst us as she led worship and preached in ways which warmed our hearts despite the perils of zoom, managed the church booking system and had many pastoral conversations over the phone. She also very much engaged with Northfield Stakeholders and compiled the vital community section of our church bulletin for a couple of years. We did eventually discover how tall she was in reality and she was soon in and out of church, schools and of course, Larry’s. She very much rose to the challenge of running our new after-school safe space for teenagers proving to be an excellent leader of playing ‘wink murder.’ Revd Theresa has been a highly competent, loyal and supportive member of the ministry team bringing to it considerable wisdom and also much fun. We are sorry that she is leaving us after less than three years but delighted that she will be staying within the oversight area as Priest-in-charge of St Bartholomew’s at Allens Cross. Holy Week and Easter 2 Palm Sunday 8.30am Sunday School Service 9.30am Sung Communion & distribution of Palm Crosses including ‘farewell to Revd Theresa’ then cake in the Pastoral Centre. If joining us on Zoom, try to have a small branch to wave (safely) 4pm Wild Church 3 Holy Monday 2pm Mothers’ Union: Pastoral Centre Easter Preparations 8.30-9pm Meditation & Compline by Zoom 4 Holy Tues 8.30-9pm Meditation & Compline by Zoom 5 Holy Wednesday 10-10.40am Holy Communion (BCP) 8.30-9pm Meditation & Compline by zoom 6 Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Holy Communion with Washing of Feet followed by vigil until 9.30pm 7 Good Friday 10am Hot Cross Bun Service in Pastoral Centre (This service counts for school admission purposes) 12noon-3pm Three Hours at the Cross. The first hour will include musical meditations and the second hour a dramatized reading of the Passion Narrative. You are welcome to drop in and out during this service 7-7.45pm Stations of the Cross in the churchyard so wear appropriate clothes and shoes 8 Holy Sat In the morning we will be preparing the church for Easter. 9 Easter 9.30am Family Communion (No Sunday School Service) Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion aimed at adults Special Services & Events (see back cover for regular services and events) Sat 1st April 9am Indoor Carboot sale Tues 11 April 9.30am Holy Dusters Thurs 13 April 7pm Social and Fundraising Committee Sun 16 April noon Holy Baptism Mon 17 April 11am Service at Chatham Place Thurs 20 April 10.30am Focus Discussion Group Sat 22 April 4pm Organ Recital by Ashley Wagner from Birmingham Cathedral. Admission free – donations welcome Sun 23 April 8.30am Sunday School Service as normal 10am Licensing of Revd Theresa Morton as Priest-in-Charge of St Bartholomew’s, Allens Cross. The service will take place at Holloway Hall, Ley Hill. 18 bus stops outside. There will NOT be a service at 9.30am at St Laurence 4pm Said Holy Communion at St Laurence Thurs 27 April 7pm PCC meeting Sat 6 May Coronation of King Charles III– we MAY livestream this in church. Please check nearer the time for details Sun 7 May 8.30am Sunday School Service 9.30am Sung Eucharist with prayers for the new King. Preacher: Fr John Mon 8 May 3pm The Mother’s Union presents a Coronation Cream Tea. All Welcome Tues 9 May 9.30am Holy Dusters Wed 10 May 11.30am Rogation-tide service at Masefield Community Gardens Sat 13 May 1pm Wedding Christian Aid Week begins Sun 14 May 9.30am Family Communion with Church Parade (No Sunday School Service at 8.30am) 5.15pm Confirmation Rehearsal at Birmingham Cathedral Mon 15 May 11am Service at Chatham Place Tues 16 May 7.30pm Churches Together in Northfield AGM Thurs 18 May 10.30am Focus Discussion Group Thurs 18 May 11.30am Ascension Day Service followed by buffet lunch at The Great Stone Inn Sat 20 May 2pm Wedding Sun 21 May 9.30am The Sung Eucharist will include the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Please make every effort to attend. Sun 28 May Pentecost Services at St Laurence as normal. Please pray for those being confirmed at Birmingham Cathedral at 11am. Mon 29 May Noon Wedding Sat 10 June 2pm Wedding Sun 11 June 9.30am Family Communion with Church Parade (No Sunday School Service at 8.30am) followed by plant sale to support Christian Aid Sat 17 June 6-8pm Rector’s Farewell Party. Fun and Games evening for all the family – bring a plate of food to share. Tea/coffee/soft drinks provided. No charge – donations welcome. Sun 18 June 9.30am Sung Eucharist and Farewell to Rector Regular Services and Activities Sun 8.30am Sunday School Service in Pastoral Centre EXCEPT when Family Service at 9.30am. See below for more details 9.30am Holy Communion in Church 12noon Baptisms by arrangement 4pm Wild Church in churchyard 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month Mon 9.30 Stay and Play in Pastoral Centre (Term time only) 11am Service at Chatham Place (3rd Monday of the month) 2pm Mothers’ Union in Pastoral Centre (1st Monday of month) 5pm Evening Prayer by zoom Tues-Fri Morning Prayer c8.30am Please contact the Rector in advance if you would like to attend Tue 9.30am Holy Dusters in church (2nd Tuesday of the month) Tue 5pm Evening Prayer by zoom Wed 10am Holy Communion (BCP) in church and Conference Call 5.15pm Bible Study by Zoom 8.30pm Compline by Conference Call Thurs 10.30am ‘Focus’ discussion group at Julie M’s home. (3rd Thursday of the month) 2pm Handbell ringers in Church 3.15pm Larry’s (after-school club for Secondary School Pupils) in Pastoral Centre Fri 7.30pm Tower Bellringers in church Sat 10– 11.30am Church Open for prayer and visitors. Light refreshments PARISH OFFICE Lorraine Freeman (Parish Administrator) The Office is open weekdays (except Wed) 9am – 12noon enquiries@saintlaurence.info 0121 475 1518 RECTOR Canon Janet Chapman Day off: Monday janet.rectory@gmail.com 0121 477 3111 ASSISTANT CURATE Revd Theresa Morton Until 2nd April theresa.curate@gmail.com 07557472096 READER Janice Wones Day off: Friday janice.wones@talktalk.net 0121 459 7417 Church Website: www.stlaurencenorthfield.org 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.