https://youtu.be/WLXztYwtaoA https://youtu.be/QUriaIKKdPo Hello everyone, We’re getting closer to being able to open the church for public worship. We’ve put full details in the packs which have just been sent out to members of the church electoral roll. There will be more information about church attendance and the school admissions process coming through to families who have started to qualify over the next week. In short we will be continuing our present pattern of services by Zoom and conference call, probably throughout August. From 25th July we will be adding a service of Holy Communion in church at 4.30pm on Saturdays. You will need to book a free ticket for the service. Full details can be found on our web-site. Church continues to be open for Private Prayer (only) until the start of the school holidays as follows: Tuesdays 1.30 – 3pm, Fridays & Saturdays 10-11.30am There will be two stewards on duty: one will be outside/in the porch and the other inside the church. If you would like to help steward then please contact the Rector as we may then be able to offer more times. We will only be able to continue beyond 19th July if we have more volunteers. There will be a bit of paperwork to go through and you must not be ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ and if you are ‘clinically vulnerable’ (which includes being 70+) we will have to do a health risk assessment. Blessings CanJan Church Events and News Weekly Challenge Thank you to all who sent in a picture of ‘Sowing and Sown’ this week. This coming week’s challenge is ‘Weeds’ (linked to the Gospel) So send in a pdf or photo - ideally landscape - to peterm435@gmail.com with the topic in the subject line by 4pm on Thursday. Praying Together – 24 hours of prayer across Church of England Birmingham Apologies to those who tried to ‘Zoom’ into this event. The Zoom code was changed rather last minute! Regarding the booklet ‘Praying Together’ due to current restrictions, there will not be a new printed version of the Church of England Birmingham booklet; a new version, we assume electronic, will launch in August through the Church of England Birmingham website and continue monthly. Further details to follow. In the meanwhile, I’ve started re-using the version which has just expired… St Laurence Church Schools Canon Janet has been popping in to lead ‘Collective Worship’ with the class-bubbles in the Infants. She does 3-in-row and then needs coffee! This coming week she will be with the Juniors (at a social distance) for the Year 6 Leavers’ service on Tuesday morning. Please pray for all the pupils, staff and governors and especially for Headteachers Mrs Proctor (Infants) and Mrs Lindsay (Juniors) as they retire this summer. For your Prayers Pat Turner, having fallen off her bike and badly injured her arm and shoulder, now home from hospital and feeling a good bit better but still in a lot of pain and awaiting a lot more surgery. We commend to God those who have died and pray for their families: Harry Ruff, aged 87 Brian Jones, brother-in-law of Lorraine Freeman Freda Marshall, mother of Merle Jones Elaine Parry, mother of a Guide in the company Liz Whitworth helps to run Rita Gardner writes: 'You may have heard of the tragic loss of our daughter, Helen Hunt in May 2010. Shortly before she died she wrote a book aimed for young children, but she was unable to see it brought to life in print. We have now been able to publish it,this tenth anniversary year of her death in Helen's memory. The book is called 'You are a Pain, Belle the Cat'. It has been illustrated by our nephew who is a professional artist in Canada. He knew and loved Helen as a child before emigrating to Canada. This is a non-profit publication purely to share Helen's story which we would love to reach a wide audience of children and adults. The book costs £8.46 and the link to order it is https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/helen-hunt/you-are-a-pain-belle-the-cat/paperback/product-58zjjk.html or contact me on 0121 475 2042/ ritagardner@blueyonder.co.uk You can see a copy of the book in church in due course or by arrangement now with me. Thank you Community Information Future Proof Project in Northfield As part of the Future Proof Project for over 50’s we have been able to provide a garden clearance service for residents during lockdown. Here are some 'before and after' pictures of gardens the Future Proof project have been working on in the area. All the people who had the work done were very happy and each described the service as 'excellent'. If you know of anyone who could benefit from Future Proof Project contact John Connelly, Future Proof Co-ordinator info@futureproofproject.co.uk Noah’s Star Remote Teddy Bears Picnic Noah’s Star are organising a remote teddy bears picnic with a timetable of activities for families (family yoga, drama and disco). This is an opportunity for families to come together in their own homes and gardens. We have a number of pdfs to download for families to get involved with the free event. Please get in touch if you would like more information jo.shellum@sociabilitycare.org Northfield Baptist Church cafe ‘Open Door’ has now re-opened. Monday - Friday from 10am-1pm with seating for 15-20 using our main sanctuary. In addition there will be some prayer space and a number of visual things for people to engage with. Birmingham City Council is requesting that residents complete their COVID-19 Impact Questionnaire. Information gathered will feed into the work of the Creating a City without Inequality Forum which is a sub-committee of the Health & Wellbeing Board. Your feedback will also help refine Birmingham’s Recovery response, proposals, priorities and identifying further opportunities. The survey will ask you about your background, your understanding and views regarding COVID-19 and the impact that lockdown measures have had on various aspects of your health and wellbeing, such as mental health, physical activity, employment and relationships. To complete the survey, please click the link: https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/place/new-survey . It should take about 15-30 minutes to complete and the deadline is 31/07/20. Phone numbers etc for support Please note that the Community Hotline has now changed its hours 0333 772 1931 (10am – 2pm Monday - Friday ) for help including shopping and picking up medication as well as advice or if you’d just like a friendly phone-call. The Northfield Community Partnership office re-opens this week. Please phone in advance (0121 411 2157) if you’d like to drop-off items for the food bank (or drop-off at church when open for prayer) or for financial donations: https://www.northfieldcommunity.org/ (top LEFT corner of front page) 24 hour Mental Health support 0121 262 3555 A 24/7 helpline for residents of Birmingham and Solihull experiencing mental health difficulties during the current pandemic, including common issues such as stress, sadness, disrupted sleep and anxiety. The support line offers confidential emotional help, guidance and reassurance to people of all ages and backgrounds, including key workers, who may be finding the current situation we are living with overwhelming. Support for bereaved people 0121 426 0405 Run by CofE Birmingham offering 1-2-1 pastoral support and prayer for bereaved people. It is specially for anyone whose loved one has died recently in hospital, in residential care or at home - a family member, friend, colleague or neighbour, or someone who has been cared for through work. It also offers support to those who are anxious about relatives who are gravely ill, especially if there is no option of visiting them in person. You will be asked to leave a message with your name and telephone number. A member of the pastoral care team will call you back as soon as possible - usually within 24 hours. Hope Radio (a resource for those without internet) Tune into Hope Radio on 87.9fm, https://radio.canstream.co.uk:9073/live.mp3 for more information about the community radio station visit https://e-voice.org.uk/hoperadio/ Email Team Hope : brumcommunitymedia@gmail.com Financial Matters If you are struggling or debts are rising do talk to your bank or Citizens Advice sooner rather than later. It is amazing what can be sorted out. THANK YOU to all those who are continuing to support the ministry and mission of St Laurence church through their regular giving. Our treasurer, Elaine Clements, reported to the PCC that many people are finding ways to keep up their regular giving which is enormously helpful. If you are struggling financially and need to take a holiday from your giving or revise is downwards then please do not be embarrassed to do this. Do contact Elaine if need help adjusting your giving or want to send in a cheque instead of putting cash to oneside. Her mobile is on the blink at the moment but e-mail still functioning… steeclem@blueyonder.co.uk or phone the office (0121 475 1518) and leave your number and we will get her to phone you. If you wish to give by standing order the details are below For Just Giving use the link at the bottom of the worship page on our web-site. You can also text a £5 donation: text STLAURENCE to 70085 Account Name St Laurence PCC Sort Code 40-52-40 Account Number 00095606 Ref Ideally your Name And finally the services and meetings for this week (the pattern of Evening Prayer has changed) One of the ministers says Morning Prayer alone in church Monday-Saturday Services and Meetings this week Links and Meeting IDs CC = you can phone in on the Conference Call Line 01902 693302 and when asked enter the code 1139 Sunday 9.30am Holy Communion (CC) available later on YouTube from c9am Rise and Shine https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84533030134 Meeting ID: 845 3303 0134 youtube.com/c/stlaurencenorthfield Monday 5pm Evening Prayer https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Tuesday 10am GridIron ‘Coffee’ 1.30-3pm Private Prayer 5pm Evening Prayer Contact Stuart Andrew 0121 628 0425 In church https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Wednesday 10am Holy Communion 8.30pm Compline https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81798933169 Conference Call only Thursday 5pm Evening Prayer https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Friday 10am – 11.30am Private prayer In church Saturday 10am – 11.30am Private prayer In church 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 # 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 We are now putting up just the Sunday and Wednesday sermons, usually later on the day on which they are preached.