This Week’s Notices

This Year’s Lent Course:  Continuing to explore how we can become a more inclusive church, our Lent course on Monday evening at 7:30pm  focuses on the issue of mental health.  What do we understand by mental health?  We hear case studies of those suffering with mental illness and their experience of church and explore related theologies.  Can people with mental illness find a home in our churches? 

Remaining Newsletters: If you live in the parish, you should have the latest newsletter by now.  There are still some to deliver at the back of church.  Please help if you can.

Transform Trade: Thanks to everyone who bought at the cake and jam sale, because the money raised plus the donations etc to Traidcraft meant that we were able to send £430 to Transform Trade.

Anything Goes Outcomes: Before this wonderful event fades in the memory, you will be pleased to know that the overall total raised was an amazing £1,181.18!  Huge thanks to Neil for setting this up. The money will help considerably as we finalise appropriate plans for our new servery.  

February Finances: Our treasurer writes: ”Another excellent month with our overheads being fully covered, plus £436 towards leaner months.  However, this has been possible because of a very generous donation.”

Oxford Diocese Lenten daily Reflections: “Come and See” takes place during Lent each year.  It’s something for the local church and the whole community children and young people, families and schools.  It’s completely free and all are welcome. you sign up, you will receive a short email each day, Monday to Saturday.And on Sundays during Lent you receive a short video from Bishop Steven exploring our theme for the week in a bit more detail.Each email begins with apassage of text from the Bible.  There is also a separate weekly email for children and families.  Go to the ‘post’ on our website to access this opportunity.

The Church of England Lenten Reflections: As in previous years, we can also choose to enjoy daily reflections via email or app from the Church of England.  There is also a children’s version to help children and their families explore how we can live well together, offering a simple daily  activity designed to explore the weekly themes.  Again, go to the ‘Opportunities for Lent’ post on our website to obtain the details of how to access these opportunities.

Earth Day, 2023: We will celebrate this on Saturday, 22nd April by opening the church for coffee, cake and conversations!  Our    popular “New2You” stall will       return and the Re-loved Card stall will be available.  Perhaps you have good tips of how to Reduce, ReUse and Recycle at home, in church and as a community working together to stop further damage to the environment.  Please get your ideas flowing and speak to Carole or Hilary to find out more and how you can help our church promote this important cause in our local community.

Zoom Meeting to Pray; 10:00am Wednesdays Weekly: our Deanery now offers a half hour Zoom prayer meeting hosted by St Paul’s Church, Slough. You can join this Zoom call any Wednesday by going to meeting ID: 523 com. 327 5615 Passcode: 2022 The meeting also goes out on Facebook.

We need a new Church Warden: Following her new job in the ambulance service, Janet is having to step down from her role as churchwarden so we need to find someone else to work with Tony & Hilary.  Please pray about this and consider whether you or someone you know might be called to support our church community in this way.

Prayer for the Homeless of Ukraine

Almighty and merciful God, whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own; look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry.  Bless those who work to bring them relief; inspire       generosity and compassion in all our hearts; and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

St Nicolas joins the REFILL REVOLUTION!: We are reducing our plastic waste by refilling used plastic bottles instead of sending them to be recycled or wasted.  We have teamed up with the REFILL HUB (see advert in our Christmas newsletter) to supply the church with cleaning materials that createPLASTIC WASTE.  We already have products in church which you can try.  Look out for our supplies of:

Liquid Hand Soap(French Vanilla)

Hand Sanitiser Gel 70% alcohol(French Vanilla)

Anti-bac All Purpose Cleaner(French Lavender)

Washing Up Liquid(Rhubarb and Lemon)

Toilet Cleaner(Spearmint and Peppermint)

The REFILL HUB visits Burnham Market on Wednesday mornings 8.30 – 13.00, and several other venues.  Times and prices are given on their website.refill-hub.co.uk.  If you wish to reduce your own plastic waste you can either take your empty plastic bottles to the  Refill Hub, or bring them to church and Hilary will get them filled for you.  Chat to Hilary for more details.

Parish Giving Scheme: Our treasurer, Jessie Cooper points out to us that the very best way to contribute to the work of our Parish Church is to use the Parish Giving Scheme. If you do not yet use this way of donating to church and you would like to know more about it or ask any questions, please contact Jessie Cooper (Parish Treasurer) in confidence… by email: jessie.stnicolas@gmail.com or phone: 01628 603187