Notices 

The Keele Chapel Singers … Summer Concert on Saturday, 26 th May in Keele University Chapel at 7.30 pm. Tickets £7.00 (£5.00 concessions) are available at the door. Net proceeds to the Donna Louise Trust.  

There is a New Christianity Explored Group … continuing this week on Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm in the Vicarage. Though this is part of the mixed teenage/adult confirmation preparation there may be one or two spaces for others interested in exploring the basics of the Christian faith. For more details, please speak to Andrew.

Keele University Brass Band … Jordan and the Keele University Brass Band warmly invite you all to an afternoon of “Music for the Queen’s Jubilee” at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Hanley at 2.30 pm on Sunday, 27 th May. Tickets cost £4 and are available on the door.

Link Distributor’s Coffee Evening ....Thank you to all who distribute ‘Link’ every month throughout the Westlands. We need some more volunteers and because of changing circumstances or re-location, some have asked about changing distribution areas. We invite all distributors and new volunteers to join us over a coffee in St Andrew's Parish Room on Tuesday, 29 th May at 7.30pm, where we can look at all the rounds and you can discuss swapping roads with each other. We hope you can join us and thank you for your service to the Church in the Westlands. Alan Swanborough (616152) and Hilary Jones (632895).

The Committee Organising a Children's Party … on the square to celebrate the Jubilee on Sunday, 3 rd June are issuing an open invitation for senior citizens to join them on the day. If you aim to arrive for about 3.00 pm there should be a cup of tea and piece of cake available, together with the chance to watch the 'best crown' competition. Please do bring any memorabilia or souvenirs from the coronation too, if you have any.

Date for your Diary… St Peter’s General Church Meeting will be held on Sunday, 17 th June. It will be held in Room 2 after the Morning Service. Details Later.

St Andrew's are Looking to Appoint … an organist and/or choirmaster and/or director of music, This is a part-time post with remuneration at RSCM rates. If you are interested - or are in contact with anyone who might be - please speak to the Vicar (01782 619594).

Newcastle-under-Lyme Through Time … by Neil Collingwood and Gregor Shufflebotham. If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy of this book, it is on offer to members of the congregation at a reduced price of £11.99 (£14.99 in the bookshops). To place an order please contact Michelle in the Circuit Office (612648). All orders to be received by 31 st May.

Monsieur de Coubertin's Magnificent Opymlic© Feat! … at Christ Church, Stone: 7.30 p.m. on Saturday, 26th May. Riding Lights Theatre Company present a new comedy about the founding of the modern Olympic games in Athens in 1896... . Packed with astonishing athletic skills, formidably good comedy, and the best moustaches this side of the 19 th century. Visit www.ridinglights.org/opymlic for info & trailer & online box office (or by tel on 01904 61300). Tickets: £12.50 / £10 (concs.) / £9 (groups of 10+).

TEARFUND Coffee morning…Please join us for our annual fundraising event on Saturday 26th May between 10.30am and 12 noon, at St Andrew’s Church Hall. Stalls include toys, cakes, books, car washing, bric-a-brac and games. All proceeds go to TEARFUND, an evangelical Christian relief & development charity which works in disaster areas all over the world, committed to transforming lives by combating the causes and effects of poverty. Admission is 50 pence including refreshments. Donations of items are welcome on the day from 9.00am or beforehand by contacting Glenys at glenys.gill@btinternet.com

United Partnership Anniversary Service…On 19th May, our two churches will be celebrating 39 years of close partnership, following the signing of our covenant in 1973. Please join us at our anniversary Holy Communion service on Sunday May 20th at 10.30am in St Peter’s church hall.

Messy Church…On Saturday 26th May from 4 pm to 5.30 pm in St. Andrew’s Church Hall. This event will be a time of “messy” activities for children of all ages, with a snack and soft drink provided. Please come along as a family and be prepared to get stuck in! For more information, please contact Fiona on 07709958372 or the Vicar on 619594.

St. Andrews 2011 Annual Report and Accounts…are now available from the back of the Church - they come in various formats, but please only take one. There will be a short presentation of the financial situation at the Annual Meeting, but please do not hesitate to ask Chris Gill if you have any questions or would like any further information. The 2011 annual report and accounts can also be downloaded.

Summer House Groups… will start on the week of 23rd April, (and continue on the weeks of 7th & 21st May, 11th & 23rd June & 9th July). Groups meet on a variety of days, in the morning and the evening. They will be exploring the New Testament book of Colossians, using a study guide entitled 'Confident Christianity'. All are welcome. There will be a sign up list in our churches, or please contact one of the ministers for more details.

BBC1's 'Songs of Praise' … are recording two programmes from Longton Central Hall, and are inviting other local church members to come along. For programme 1 the recording is on Saturday, 23rd June, 14.15 - 17.45 (with a rehearsal for any who want to sing in the choir on Tuesday, 19 th June 19.30 - 21.30). For programme 2 the recording is on Sunday, 24 th June, 14.15 - 17.45 (with a rehearsal for any who want to sing in the choir on Wednesday 20 th June 19.30-21.30). There are lists in both churches to sign by 6 th May if you would like tickets for either or both programmes. If you are requesting choir tickets, you will need to indicate how many are for Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass. The programmes are scheduled for broadcast on 14 th October 2012 and 13 th January 2013.

Our CMS Mission Partners in Cairo ... Chris & Angela Chorlton are back in the UK this summer, and visiting their sponsoring churches. We are looking forward to their being with us on the weekend of 16-17th June. To help them make the most of their time in the UK they are looking for someone who can lend them a car (needs to be available for June, July & August and to seat a family of 5 plus luggage). If you can help please contact them directly, or via Bethan Thompson (e-mail: bethan.thompson@btinternet.com or telephone: 07962180755)

Drivers Required …We are very grateful for all who already offer other people lifts to worship. In addition to what is already organised very well informally, Sheila Rushton has volunteered to co-ordinate transport for the 10.30 am St Andrew’s Sunday service. To begin with, we need to recruit some drivers - who might be able to help either on a regular or an ad-hoc basis. If you think that you may perhaps be able to help with this, please let Sheila Rushton know (Tel 615822) or speak to one of the churchwardens.

The Review of our Partnership …is continuing, and Philip Webb is inviting members of both churches to complete a review form, or to make any other comments to him. The form gives details to contact Philip directly, or submissions can be returned to a box near the entrance of both churches.

Coalition for Marriage ... The Government is proposing to change the definition of marriage. A coalition of Christian organisations has raised a petition supporting the current legal definition of Marriage stating " I support the legal definition of marriage which is the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.  I oppose any attempt to redefine it."  The petition can be signed on-line at www.c4m.org.uk, or on sheets at the back of church. For those interested in exploring this issue further, there's quite a bit on the internet - I'd recommend especially www.peter-ould.net as a site that's authored by an Anglican clergyman who (whilst not without his own convictions) interacts thoughtfully with a wide range of opinions.

Keswick Convention - July/August 2012. A group of about 30 people from our church will be attending this Christian event again this year. The Convention has been running for over 125 years and provides some outstanding Bible teaching and preaching. The convention also includes a full children/youth programme of events. All this and the chance of spending some leisure time in the beautiful Lake District. If you would like to know more about possibly joining us this year, then please contact Brian or Sue Tattersall for more information on 01782 623090 or 07732 333648.

Paving Slabs … The paving slabs in front of St Andrew’s are not designed to take vehicles and, if used too much, may start to crack. Please can we ask that they are only used by vehicles when absolutely necessary e.g. for dropping off heavy equipment.

North Staffordshire Circuit Website … the new Circuit Website is now up and running at www.northstaffordshiremethodists.org.uk.

Circuit Office … in case there is a need to contact Michelle Bradbury during the week, the Circuit Office contact details are:- 01782 612648 or northstaffscircuit@hotmail.co.uk. For details relating to St Andrew’s unless it is urgent please continue to use 01782 634389 or churchinthewestlands@talktalk.net and Michelle will continue to deal with this on a Thursday.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations … Rather than organise a separate central church party, church members are encouraged to consider initiating, or participating in a party in their street or district - a great way to encourage community and to get to know your neighbours.

St Andrew's Bookstall ... A word of encouragement to take time to read a Christian book for inspiration and spiritual refreshment on our daily walk with Jesus. There is a good selection of cards and books to buy from the Bookstall or to borrow for all ages from the lending library in St Andrew's. Ask Helen Swanborough, (616152) if you have any queries.

The Bishop of Stafford and Chair of the Methodist District … are booked to conduct a joint Confirmation Service on Sunday 15 th July. Those who have not been confirmed are encouraged to consider this step as a way of publicly affirming their faith in Christ, and of becoming a full adult member of our churches. The course will start in early May, and as well as being open to adults, is also offered to any from ages 13 (or in year 8) upwards. You are also welcome to come along to find out more, without necessarily making a commitment at this stage to be confirmed. For more details contact Andrew or Robert.

For Your Diary... The Summer Holiday Club will run from Monday 6 th - Friday 10 th August and during Sunday worship on 12 th August.

Regular reminders

Prayer Rota ... Did you know that day by day we pray for each street in the Westlands and those who live there ? Leaflets entitled "Praying for the Westlands Area" are available in both Churches. Please pray with us, either at home each day at a time to suit you, or join us in Church (7.30 a.m. Monday to Saturday; 9.00 p.m. each Saturday evening and 10.00 a.m. every first Thursday of the month).

Book of Remembrance...On the first Thursday of every month, at 10 am there is a Holy Communion service in St. Andrew’s at which the names for that month in the Book of Remembrance are read. Coffee afterwards in the Parish room.

Fair Trade Stall ... Fair Trade goods will be on sale on the 3rd Sunday of each month in St Andrew’s Church Hall , following the 10.30 am service. Rice, pasta, biscuits, chocolate, coffee, tea etc will be on sale - please purchase and make a difference to people living in the undeveloped world. Find out more on the Fairtrade page.

Be prepared....a web site has been produced to offer information for the people of Staffordshire, its visitors and businesses on preparations for, and responses to, emergencies and major incidents within Staffordshire. This can be found at: www.staffordshireprepared.gov.uk