Notices

Monday Group ... the next meeting will be held on 8 th March at 7.45 pm in St Peter’s Room 2. The speaker will be Anona Bloor on the theme of Heritage Quilts.

The Draft Annual Report and Accounts ... are now available for PCC members to collect from the board at the back of St Andrew’s Church.

Mothering Sunday in St Andrew’s ... Help is needed to prepare the flowers that will be given to the children for their mothers during the morning service. Please join us in the Parish Room at 9.30 am on Saturday, 13 th March. No experience necessary as training will be given! Offers of greenery will be most gratefully accepted. Please contact Enid Fairhurst (625678) for any further information.

St Peter’s Pastoral Committee ... will be meeting on Wednesday, 17 th March at 7.30 pm in St Peter’s Room 3.

Circuit Prayer Meeting ... the next Prayer Meeting will be held at Higherland Methodist Church on 16 th March commencing at 7.30 pm. Why not join us in this time of worship, fellowship and prayer. If you have topics for prayer please put them on the Prayer Focus Board situated in the Church Foyer.

Newcastle Lions Club ... is holding a Charity Jumble Sale in St Andrew’s Hall on Saturday, 20 th March at 10.00 am. Jumble will be gratefully received from 9.00 am or contact John and Tessa Jones on 632099.

Who Moved The Egg? ... An Easter Extravaganza for all the family. The Saltmine Theatre Company are putting on a family production at Clough Hall Technology School on Tuesday, 23 rd March at 7.00 pm. Tickets are prices at £3.00 for adults and £1.00 for children and are available from Alan Stanton on 816164.

Good News from Matt Priestland .... Matt has been offered a permanent position from September. He will be teaching a Year 3 class at Crescent Primary School where he is currently working. Matt also informs us that Fi and himself will be moving into a house in Church Lawton on their return from honeymoon.

Church in the Westlands - Over 55's houseparty - May 2010 ... a three day break at Foxhill, near Chester, involving good food, relaxing surroundings, and great friendships. Leaflets are available at the back of both of our churches.

PASSION FOR LIFE EVENTS ...

1. Christianity Too Hot to Handle ... at the Bengal Indian Restaurant, Hanford on Monday, 15 th March 2010 at 7.30 pm. An evening of good food, good company and a speaker to fire your mind. There will be a buffet meal - £10 per head. Reservations: Bethan Thompson (07962 180755) bethan.thompson@btinternet.com.

2. Tickets for the Colin Buchanan concert ... are now available from Chris Gill @ £4.50 each. Tickets must be purchased in advance and sales are going quickly so please book up and let Chris have the money as soon as possible.

Volunteers for the Colin Buchanan concert ... are asked to meet for 15 minutes after the 10.30 service on Sunday 7th March. Help is mostly needed on the day (in the evening) and we are hoping there will be enough helpers to allow parents of young children to spend the time with the children rather than have to help

3. What is success? ... an opportunity to think about one of life’s key questions and to hear how Jesus’ teaching is wise and liberating. Speakers: Revd Rico Tice (All Soul’s Langham Place, London) and Revd Ken Howles (rebel turned chaplain to Blackburn Rovers) at Britannia Stadium on Sunday 21 st March at 6.30 pm.

4. Preaching evangelistically ... Castle Church Hall, Stafford, Monday 22 nd March, 10.30 am - 1.00 pm a conference with Rico Tice for preachers - bring your own lunch and questions.

St. Andrews 2009 Accounts summary - a leaflet setting out the Church's financial situation in 2009 is available as a dowload here and as a printed leaflet from the back of church.  We are very grateful to all those who contributed in any way to the significant increase in giving during the year.  Costs are expecting to rise by as much as 5% in 2010 and it would be helpful if individuals could continue to review their giving on an annual basis.

St Andrew’s Electoral Roll ... is being revised in preparation for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 25 th April. The Roll is at the back of church - please check to see if your name and address are entered correctly. New entries may be made and members of both congregations are eligible to apply. Please return application forms by 31 st March, or contact Gillian Moss on 616906.

St Andrew’s Bookstall ... “Lifted”, “Last Things First”, “Lives Jesus Changed”, “I’m a Christian Aren’t I” and “In the Days of the Kings” are titles of recently published books by well-respected authors now available on the bookstall. There are also some old favourites and, in the wake of the controversy over the amendments to parliamentary legislation for sex education in faith schools, some books for teaching sex to children in families.

Monday Group ... the next meeting will be held on 8 th March at 7.45 pm in St Peter’s Room 2. The speaker will be Anona Bloor on the theme of Heritage Quilts.

Lent 2010: Demolish discontent! ... We all know what it is to feel discontented with our lives - with what we have, how much we can get, what we do, who we live with, how we are and what the future promises. But the apostle Paul was able to say that he had learned the secret of being content in any and every situation - in need or in plenty.

And so 'contentment' is the theme of our 2010 Lent Course, which will be a mixture of Bible talks and group discussion. We meet for five consecutive Thursdays in St Andrew's church building, commencing 25th February. Choose between 10.30 am - 12.00 noon and 8.00 pm - 9.30 pm (and you can mix n match). Please sign up at the back of our churches.

Raising money for UCB ... - the United Christian Broadcasters may now be heard on DAB radio throughout the UK (info. on www.ucbmedia.co.uk/uk ). Could you undertake to help raise money for their work with a sponsored bike ride in July? Whitehaven to Sunderland (or part only) in 3 days. See poster on St.Andrew's notice board or visit ucb.co.uk/coasttocoast

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 third Thursday of the month).

Spring 2010: The new editions of “The Word for Today” and “Word 4u2Day” ... are now available in St Andrew’s. Have you tried this helpful handbook? Do take a copy and read its often thought-provoking messages.

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.