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Weekly News from SS&SJ, Earl Shilton, and St Mary's, Elmesthorpe

Services this coming Sunday, 8th October:
• 9.15am – Holy Communion at St Mary’s
• 10.45am - Holy Communion at SS&SJ.
The Bible reading at our morning services will be from Ruth 2 v 1-17a (p211).

The story of Ruth in the Bible - During the coming weeks, in some of our Sunday services (starting this week), we will be exploring the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. It is a beautiful story of love, faithfulness and God’s goodness, that is still relevant to our lives today. It is a short ‘book’ of the Bible with only 4 chapters, so why not read it through in your own Bible at home, or in a children’s Bible. Whether you are a grown-up or a child, you may also like to watch a children’s video online, such as this one from ‘Saddleback Kids’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDmjO7X8ELI
If you would like to join one of our weekly cell groups where we will be looking at it in more detail, please speak to Martin.

Mix & Mingle - Please see church notice boards to sign up for the following events (everyone is welcome (adults only)):
• Board games with fish & chip supper in the parish hall – 6pm until 8pm(ish), Saturday 4th November.
• Day trip to Worcester Victorian Christmas Market/visit the cathedral – Thursday November 30th.
• Christmas lunch @ Hinckley Golf Club - Wednesday December 13th 12:00

Autumn Fair – Barwell and Earl Shilton Lions invite you to their fair on Saturday 7th October, 10am – 4pm at SS&SJ Church Hall. Free entry. For more information: www.beslions.org

A Mind of Their Own Tour is coming to One Church, Leicester, on 18th October, enabling parents to help children build strong emotional resilience and healthy mental wellbeing. For more information and to book, go to cff.org.uk/moto or see the information in church.

Memorial Service – Our annual memorial service will be on 29th October at 4.00pm at SS&SJ. You are all welcome to attend. If you have any names of loved ones who are no longer with us that you would like to be read out in the prayers, please forward them to Beth in the church office (parishchurch@gmx.co.uk).

Sing for Worship – Saturday November 4th, 11.00 for 11.15 start at SS&SJ. All welcome to come and learn some new songs.

Earl Shilton Neighbourhood Mental Health Café provided by Mental Health Matters – The cafés offer local support for people who need immediate help with their mental health. Drop in to talk to trained staff who can listen and provide the practical support you need in confidence - no appointment needed. Wednesdays, 6pm - 11pm at Earl Shilton Community House, Peggs Close, Earl Shilton, LE9 7BP. Tel.: 07816 350 215, Email: mhm.leicestercrisiscafes@nhs.net. For more information, see the posters in church or go to: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/service/neighbourhood-mh-cafes

St Mary’s Building Project - St Mary’s PCC (Church Council) met on Monday 2nd October to talk about how we can take the building project forward. The meeting was facilitated by Gill Elliott, the Diocesan Church Buildings Advisor. We began by revisiting our needs. The need for a toilet, storage space, some form of kitchen/servery area were agreed, as well as keeping in good repair the fabric of the listed building/ancient monument. What form of meeting space is required needs to be teased out a little more, along with a vision for our purpose as a church and our links with the wider community. We finished by looking at the pros and cons; three options:
• Progressing the current plans for which permission has been granted.
• Doing no building project at all.
• Developing an alternative to the current plans.
We all agreed that we were able to rule at the second – doing nothing was not an option. But we did not feel that we could make a decision on the other two options. This was, in part, because we agreed that we needed to consult with the congregation and wider community first. Watch this space for further details on this.

Job opportunity – Hinckley Area Foodbank are looking for a warehouse manager. Ask Beth in the church office for more information if you are interested in applying.

Elmesthorpe Friends Food and Flowers Initiative will be holding their next Coffee Morning on Saturday 28th October 2023, 10.00am - 11.30am at Elmesthorpe Village Hall, raising money for the church and other charities. Theme: “Pumpkin Party” - all things pumpkin, round and orange! Wear something orange!
At the Coffee Morning the St Mary’s Subscription Draw will take place. The results of our latest draw held on 30th September: first prize £40 number 139, second prize £25 number 28, third prize £15 number 144, fourth prize £10 number 184, fifth prize £10 number 49.

Please pray:
• for Rob and Tina Smith beginning their new role as caretakers of SS&SJ Parish Hall.
• that the political parties, meeting at their annual conferences, may work together to find ways to protect the most vulnerable in society.

Prayers to start the day take place at 9am on Mondays at St Simon and St Jude's and Tuesdays and Thursdays at St Mary's, as well as on Facebook on Wednesday. The prayers in church last half-an-hour and are a wonderful opportunity to pray for our churches, communities and the wider world, so do come and join us.

Contacting us –
• For general church enquiries please contact Beth Evans in the Church Office.
• For pastoral matters or if you need to speak to a church minister, please contact Martin Castle on 07759 002660.

Prayer for the week:
God, our judge and saviour,
teach us to be open to your truth
and to trust in your love,
that we may live each day
with confidence in the salvation which is given
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Bible verse of the month to learn:
‘In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets’ – Matthew 7 v 12.