Mission Weekend Friday 24th – Sunday 26th May
with Archbishop Justin Welby
Archbishop Justin Welby hopes to visit every diocese in England during his time as Archbishop of Canterbury. He wants to talk about Jesus and encourages us to do so. So with Justin coming to Gloucester Diocese on the week after Pentecost we also want to share the Good News in our community.
To encourage us, we have with us on the weekend of 24th – 26th May, Chris Andrew. Chris is a member of the college of Archbishop’s evangelists and a Reader in the Church of England. He lives in South Gloucestershire at Wickwar, and heads up ‘Project Touchline’, which much like ‘Sportily’, enables faith to flourish through RE and PE (lots of tag rugby), often in Church of England Primary Schools (see his video www.touchline.org.uk).
On Friday at Hartpury School the children have four sessions on the Christian values of ‘friendship’ and ‘respect’. Our ‘Open the Book’ actors are helping with the Collective Worship. A highlight of the morning is the ‘prayer club’ under a specially chosen and cared for prayer tree. John Stilwell, who works in five Primary Quest schools, encouraging and enabling faith to flourish through RE and PE, is giving his full support.
On Saturday morning 10am-12noon at Hartpury School, led by John Stillwell, we are running a holiday club, centring on this term’s Christian values of ‘friendship’ and ‘respect’. And during the morning we shall pray together around the prayer tree.
And then on Sunday morning, again 10am-12noon at Hartpury School, rather than do our normal Sunday church services, with John and Chris, we are holding ‘Sweaty Church’. It is outdoors of course! Both adults and children will engage in family fun activities and share in worship together. Again, at times, we will pray for each other around the school prayer tree.
Finally, for those with the stamina to join in, there is a service on Sunday at 3pm in Gloucester Cathedral with Archbishop Justin Welby. We’ll have plenty to reflect back on. And we shall hear from all around the diocese too.
Baptisms in May
We offer our prayers and congratulations to:
Maeve Elizabeth Wallace, parents Victoria and Robert, whose baptism is on Saturday 11th May 11am at Ashleworth Church
Zeta Mary Edwards, parents Estelle and Richard, whose baptism is on Sunday 12th May 11am at Hartpury Church
Vienna Leigh Villis, parents Madison and George, whose baptism is on Sunday 26th May 1.30pm at Maisemore Church