Church Notices for Trinity 7 & 8 (18th and 25th July 2021) Hello Everyone, This is a two-week edition as I’m ‘holidaying-at-home’ next week. Revd Theresa is on leave from 26th July – 9th August and until then she will be self-isolating having literally just been ‘pinged.’ You may be wondering what ‘Freedom Day’ means for church services. Although restrictions are being lifted the message seems to be ‘please keep doing things as you have been doing’ especially as Covid rates are continuing to rise. We are NOT expecting to make any changes to our current way of working for some weeks yet but the PCC will discuss at their meeting on 29th July. Please continue to wear Face Coverings and book for services. Please read the COVID Section below for further information. The big word is CAUTION! It was lovely to see a good number of people in church and on Zoom last Sunday for Fr David’s retirement service. The Water Aid fundraiser is now up to £380 (and still open) https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stlaurencenorthfield Fr David and Anne have sent this message…. “We would like to thank everyone for the generous good wishes and for the gifts both personal and to Water Aid.  It is good that my retirement should be able to help bring clean water to those in need.  We will remember you all and pray for you in the weeks, months and years to come.  Thank you How green is your heart? Last Sunday we marked Climate Sunday and there will be more information about this in our next packs for Electoral Roll members. They are due out in the next week. Please remember to return your green hearts -suitably decorated as a sign of your commitment to reducing your carbon footprint. This week’s Eco Tip: We hear quite a lot about food waste, and we’re probably all guilty of throwing away food that’s out of date. Remember ‘best before’ is not the same as ‘use by’, and special offers are not so special if they end up in the bin! And when we throw away food, it’s not just that food that’s wasted, but all the resources that went into growing, making, packaging, transporting and storing it. If you keep a record of what you throw away you might see some patterns developing that can help you identify where to alter your shopping habits (a couple of black bananas each week? Half a jar of leftover pasta sauce? Stale crusts?). Also, never go shopping when you’re hungry, and take a meal plan with you and stick to it! Thank you to Rowena and team for organising ‘CASH’ on Saturday 10th July. It was lovely that a steady number of people “Came And Said Hello.” This coming Monday our churchwarden’s will attend a service in Bournville Parish Church and be sworn into their office by the Archdeacon for a further year. Please pray for Sandra and Roy in all that they undertake as our wardens. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes as well as in their public role. This week they have both been involved in the clear-up and police visits following the break-in to the church vestries overnight on 10/11 July. Thankfully, whilst there was a lot of mess, very little was broken or stolen. On the same evening there will be Praying for Northfield: Katie reports that the next meeting will be IN PERSON in her garden (Bodenham Road) to pray for an hour at 8pm.  If you would like to attend please contact her (k.s.everson@hotmail.co.uk ) for her full address and postcode. Over the summer we will be offering Forest Church on Wednesdays 11.30am – 12.15pm at Masefield Community Garden. It is aimed at children already at primary school and accompanying adults. Pre-booking will be required and further details on our web-site https://www.stlaurencenorthfield.org/uploads/6/4/4/1/6441792/forest_church_2021.pdf and pre-booking will be required. Members of the ministry team have been pleased to be the pioneers behind zoom-host and the tech desk in church. Now the systems have become a lot easier we are looking for more people to help out with this. For Zoom-host you need to have a good wi-fi signal at home and a laptop or other computer though it is possible (but harder) on a phone. A few people who could help this on a monthly basis will enable us to keep things going especially over the holiday period. Please speak with me or Revd Theresa if you’d be willing to give it a go. The porch roof has now been painted but we awaiting a date for the flooring to be continued. However, there will be demonstration of the potential new lighting on Wednesday 28th July at 7pm. We hope that this will be convenient for most PCC members. If you would like to come too please let Lorraine, in the office, know. The meditations for this week are those dated 12th – 17th July as I got the weeks muddled up when putting them together. Apologies Jacob & Dorothea Matsveru are kindly asking for any old or broken phones and tablets to help their community in Zimbabwe. They can be repaired there if not working. Drop them at their house – leave behind the flower pots if no one at home. 49 Inverness Road. B31 1RF. Thank you all in advance. If you are interested in becoming a guide for (part of) the church please let Stuart Andrew know – 0121 628 0425 Bible Studies continue on Tuesdays in July at 7.30pm for about 45mins by Zoom. 18 at Heart - the yarn bomb (postponed from last year) is on!!! Lookout for a massive 5.5 mile artwork! From 18 July along the no.18 bus route for around three weeks, look out for all the hearts!  Our nearest bus stop will be the one at the Church Road and Bunbury Road junction. But you should see them all along the no. 18 bus route. Janice Wones has made quite a lot of hearts for the project. Keep young at heart and enjoy the sunshine. Blessings Can Jan For your Prayers Those who are ill Mike Cross (and Rosie his wife): Pat Turner: continues to receive treatment as arm still very painful Vicki Reeves: hopes to be church soon but still in a lot of pain. Peter Valentine: father of one of our brides-to-be currently in hospital Barbara Finch: now home Those who have died Funerals taken this week: Esther Sorby Funerals coming up: Gladys Clarke (19th July at Lodge Hill), Christine Archer (21st July in church) Community News  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.  Also call for face to face appointments or to use a computer in their Hub, 693-695 Bristol Road South, Northfield. As advertised in last week’s notices, those interested in becoming Friends of Northfield Station met online last week. A recording of that meeting can be found on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOopvBNAdFs or email FriendsOfNFD@gmail.com for a transcript. Also use this email to receive more information, including about the meeting that will be held in person at the station on either 24th or 31st July, where there’s an opportunity to meet the Station Master and discuss ideas for the station. We all deserve to feel safe where we live. Resolve is a well-established organisation that advocates for community safety and the effective tackling of antisocial behaviour (ASB), which is on the rise. From 19th-25th July, Resolve is holding the UK’s first ASB-Awareness Week, which includes online sessions where the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, key figures from national and local government, the police and other organisations discuss how to deal with the rising challenge of ASB. The full programme of events is on the Resolve website: https://www.resolveuk.org.uk Kings Norton Beach (on the Green) will be open from Friday 30th July – Monday 2nd August, and Northfield Beach (Price’s Square) from Saturday 21st August – Tuesday 24th August, both from 10am-4pm. Both beaches are free, with free drinks and snacks available for all children, as well as lots of other exciting free family fun. Follow on Facebook NorthfieldPship or Twitter #KingsNortonBeach and #NorthfieldBeach If you’re looking for some family entertainment over the weekend of 17th/18th July, why not pop along to Rowheath Pavillion’s outdoor cinema? Tickets available from: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sceniccinema/ The scenic 18-hole Lickey Hills Golf Course is offering great deals for over 60’s on weekdays: 7am – 5pm £12,30, or after 5pm £7,30. Call 0121 453 3159. Covid “Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air” A message from Birmingham City Council Public Health Team: All wards in Birmingham continue to see rises in cases. Quinton and Rubery/Rednal are now in the ‘top ten’ wards with the highest number of case, and the number of people being admitted to University Hospitals Birmingham with Covid have doubled. Total cases rose in all age groups this week, most noticeably in the 40-59 age group, the 60-79 age group, and the 80+ age group.  They also increased in all ethnic groups, most noticeably the White population. The Prime Minister has confirmed that Step 4 of the Roadmap will proceed as planned on Monday 19 July. However this does not mark the end of the need for caution and restraint. Although many of the legal restrictions will be lifted, cautious guidance will remain which makes it clear that this not yet a return to normal. Quite a lot of the teachers at St Laurence Schools have gone down with Covid over the last fortnight. Some have been really poorly despite being double-vaccinated. While cases are high and rising, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. Taking regular lateral flow tests are vital, as are taking a PCR test and self-isolating if you show symptoms or have a positive lateral flow test. Remember that Public Health Birmingham reports that the main symptoms of the Delta variant are headache, sore throat, and runny nose, followed by fever, and then less commonly, cough. Loss of taste/smell does not occur.  If in doubt – don’t go out but check it out with a PCR test! Please try to do a Lateral Flow Tests within 48 hours of attending a church services.  There are plenty of test kits in church or you can order them on-line and also pick them up from local pharmacies. For more information about Step 4 and how you can do your bit to stay safe, please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Let’s all do our bit to keep each other safe. To book for services use EVENTBRITE LINKS or, if this isn’t possible phone Revd Theresa on 07557472096 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 – though we can chat in groups of up to 6 (or two bubbles) outside afterwards 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 SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICE In Pastoral Centre   Sunday 18th July 8.30am   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162571671245 (booking closes - Saturday 17th July 2pm) HOLY COMMUNION   Sunday 18th July 9.30am     https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162572020289 (booking closes Saturday 17th July 2pm) SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICE In Pastoral Centre   Sunday 25th July 8.30am   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162970604465 (booking from Saturday 24th July 2pm) HOLY COMMUNION   Sunday 25th July 9.30am     https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162970125031 (booking from Sunday 18th July 11am – Saturday 23th July 2pm) SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICE In Pastoral Centre   Sunday 1st August 8.30am   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162970604465 (booking from Sunday 25th July 9am - Saturday 31sth July 2pm) HOLY COMMUNION   Sunday 1st August 9.30am     https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162970125031 (booking from Sunday 25th July 11am – Saturday 31st July 2pm) FOREST CHURCH https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/163044834489 Booking for all sessions starts 17th July, and ends at 2pm the day before each session. Please do not book more than 2 sessions for now SERVICES AND MEETINGS THIS WEEK Saturdays 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. Sundays  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 Mondays 5pm Evening Prayer (not 26th July) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 Tuesdays 10am Gridiron ‘Coffee’ 5pm Evening Prayer 7.30pm Bible Study Currently meeting at 10.30am in the grounds of Rowheath Park following Covid Guidance with Coffee etc available at the Pavilion. Just turn up! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 Via the above link Wednesdays 10am Holy Communion 11.30am – 12.15 from 28th July 7pm on 28th July 8.30pm Compline https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81798933169 Meeting ID 81798933169 Forest Church at Masefield Community Garden. Prebook on eventbrite New lighting demo in church By Conference Call only 01902 693302 Code 1139 Thursdays 3.15pm “Larry’s” definitely on 22nd July and possibly throughout the holidays NO Evening Prayer on Thursdays for next few weeks 7pm on 29th July In the Pastoral Centre PCC meeting 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 # 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 Our Administrator, Lorraine Freeman, is back in the office: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week Website: www.stlaurencenorthfield.org RECTOR Canon Janet Chapman Off duty 19-26 July except Sunday 25th janet.rectory@gmail.com ? 0121 477 3111 ASSISTANT CURATE Revd Theresa Morton Day off: Friday and off duty 26th July – 9th Aug theresa.curate@gmail.com ? 07557472096 READER Janice Wones Day off: Friday janice.wones@talktalk.net ? 0121 459 7417 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