April 2004

Dear Friends,

Easter is a time of endings and new beginnings. A time when the seasons begin to show a visible turn to renewal, a time when the penitential season of Lent makes way for the joy of Easter and, this year, a time when the parish begins a fresh start on its Christian pilgrimage with the coming within weeks of our new vicar, Malcolm Convery.

Of course there are some things that have come to an end, too, during this period. Our Lent Lunches in the Parish Hall have once more provided an opportunity for an average of between sixty and seventy folk from the ‘village’ and beyond to share each other’s company and a pleasant homemade meal on Wednesdays each week, while at the same time providing a handsome amount for charity. Our thanks must go to the members of both sections of our Mothers’ Union and others for the unstinting and cheerful effort they have put into making this the success it is.

And all the effort put in too by so many people during our Christian Stewardship Renewal Campaign has also brought a successful conclusion. We now have pledges for the next five years from more people than we did four years ago and the amount pledged has also increased, though not to the bold target we set. However, with the help of ‘open plate’ collections we should now be able to set our finances into their proper perspective in the promotion of Christ’s Kingdom in this place. And a word of thanks is due to all who have taken part in this worthwhile effort.

So, as I have said, Easter, that most wonderful time in the Christian calendar, is upon us once more. It brings with it the life-changing message that not only did God the Creator love this world enough to allow his only Son to die for us all, but that he brought Him through that impenetrable barrier of death to allow us the opportunity to share in his eternal life, of which this present life is but a part. And it follows that the reality of the resurrection is more than just a fact to be believed; it can become a vital energy to enter into our own individual circumstances. For we are reminded through the events that immediately followed the resurrection that God now walks alongside each of us as surely as Jesus accompanied the two travellers on the road to Emmaus on that Easter evening. It is a story both of salvation and of turning our brokenness into a new communion, a fresh start. May God grant you fresh vision and his strength at this joyous time.

Yours in Christ,

Les Lawrinson

STEWARDSHIP

With 93% of the visits now completed the total of fully pledged giving is now £53,808. This figure represents 73% of our pledged giving target of £74,000. When all visits are complete we hope to have a pledged giving total of approx £56,000.

Although this figure is not as high as we had hoped the actual level of pledged giving will have increased by about £4,000 per annum. Although a small number of those who pledged 4 years ago have not renewed their regular giving for various reasons there has been a net increase in the actual number of families or individuals who are now pledging (156 increased to 165). Hopefully this will increase further when all visits are completed.

By not reaching our target figure there are, of course, financial implications for the Church. We will now have to rely to a much greater extent on the loose plate collections over the next 5 years. A number of the Stewardship visitors have reported that some people felt they were only able to pledge their giving up to a certain level but may supplement this by contributing on the plate when they attend Church. Additional gifts such as these can provide a significant boost to our income.

I will be issuing a summary document in the next few weeks which, with Peter’s help, will spell out in more detail what the financial future for St Peter’s may look like in the coming years.

We should not be too disheartened however and we need to thank God that we do have a dependable regular income even though at only a modest amount above that which we have enjoyed for the last 4 years.

It is undoubtedly a significant achievement and my thanks must go to everyone on the various Stewardship committees for all their hard work and dedication as without their efforts our financial outlook would have been even more uncertain.

Above all we must also thank all those who have pledged their giving to St Peter's.
Elaine Cory
Campaign Director

MOTHERS UNION

The members of the Mothers' Union have had a busy month. The afternoon group met at the start of the month and helped decorate some of the bookmarks which will be used for the service sheets in June when we expect 1500 MU members to be on the Island. As I write this we look forward to one of our own members - Gladys Gillatt - telling us about her "Journey of a Lifetime". The evening members held their meeting at Wendy's home and after a short service all tried their hand at pottery! A wonderful evening with lots of chat and laughs.

We're also looking forward this week to our Festival & Lady Day service in the Cathedral, members from both groups joining together and going to the 'Harbour Lights' in Peel for tea afterwards.

Thanks to all the Ladies who provided the daffodils and prepared the posies for Mothering Sunday and a special thanks to Jean for parading the MU banner at the beginning of the Mothering Sunday family service.

Both groups are working very hard towards the Lent Lunches. Between 60 & 70 people have been coming each Wednesday and enjoying a very varied soup and dessert menu. Thank you again to all those who have helped us so much on these days. Lent Lunches continue up to and including 7th April.

Our programme for April is as follows:
April 6th Holy Week Service in Church for both groups at 7.30pm
April 13th 2pm "All at Sixes & Sevens" with Margaret Burrow
April 19th 10.30am Diocesan Quiet Day at Marown
April 22nd 7.45pm "Call My Bluff" with Wendy Allen
April 27th 2pm Annual Business Meeting

Remembering that this year we are remembering 'The Year of the Family', our April prayer is for Grandparents:
Lord, thank you for grandparents,
for the support and encouragement they give,
the warmth and love they show their grandchildren
and their wisdom and patience in difficult situations.
We give thanks too, for the joy that grandchildren bring
and pray for their relationships with their grandparents.
We pray for grandparents who have lost sight of their grandchildren.
through global movement or family breakdown
and for those who care full time for their grandchildren.
Amen.
Sylvia Lawrinson

LADIES FELLOWSHIP

A very interesting meeting about Bees was given by Mrs Mills – they are certainly very busy little fellows.

Our second meeting of the month was a joint meeting with the Methodist Ladies and the Mothers' Union when Mr Hartley spoke about the work of The Leprosy Mission.

Mr Rivers will be talking about 'the Friends of Chernobyl Children' at the first April meeting on (7th April).

THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY

Thanks has been received from the Children's Society for the £192.06 banked as donations from the box collections.

THE LEPROSY MISSION

£319.19 has been banked with the possibility of yet a bit more. Mr Hartley spoke on behalf of the Leprosy Mission on the 24th March at a joint meeting held with the Methodist Ladies.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual Vestry and Annual Church Meetings are to be on Thursday April 29th at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. During the evening we will receive reports from each of the Church groups. There will also be elections for Church Wardens and PCC members. As in previous years we will make the evening a social event and invite everyone to bring a contribution to a buffet supper with them, which we will enjoy at the close of business.

Please try to make time to come along and celebrate the life of St Peter’s.
DECORATING CHURCH FOR EASTER

At 9 am on Saturday 10th April the ladies will be decorating the Church for Easter – all contributions of flowers and greenery much appreciated - if you can help please leave them in the buckets provided in the church porch on Friday 9th April – Thanks very much.

EASTER COFFEE EVENING & PRE-GUILD CONCERT

On Friday 16th April there is to be a concert in the Parish Hall given by youngsters who have entered this years Guild. Not only does this provide them with an opportunity to practice in front of an audience, but gives us a chance to see some of the young local talent we have. Cake, Fancy Goods Stalls and Raffle.

Tickets £1 adults/50p children available from Gordon Astill (620236), Parish Office and back of Church.

Proceeds towards the Parish Hall Refurbishment.

THE LEGEND OF THE DOGWOOD

As legend has it, the cross on which Jesus was Crucified was made from a dogwood tree. God decreed that the dogwood tree would from that day forth never grow large enough to be used to make a Cross. Thus, the dogwood tree is a small tree. The flower of the dogwood has four petals (two long and two short) which makes the shape of a cross. The centre of the flower resembles the crown of thorns with bright red, clustered fruit in the centre representing the blood of Christ.
The dogwood blooms in April when Easter Sunday marks the Resurrection of Christ after the Crucifixion.

THANK YOU, LORD
Have I ever really thanked you, Lord, for the fact that I can see
A clear blue sky, a bird in flight, a child upon my knee,
A sunset's glow at eventide, a cloud so full and white,
In never-ending gratitude – the wondrous gift of sight?

Have I ever really thanked you, Lord, for the fact that I can hear
A bird in song, my children laugh, a spoken word so dear,
A welcome knock upon my door, rain on my window pane?
It means that I am part of things and have so much to gain.

Have I ever really thanked you, Lord, for the fact that I can walk
A country lane, a city street, meet friends and stop to talk,
To climb upon a hillside and marvel at the view?
All these things are blessings, gifts sent down by you.

We walk along life's highway, and seldom stop to say
Thank you, Lord, for all these gifts so dear to us each day.

by Maralyn I. Fawcett-Smith

FROM THE REGISTERS

BAPTISM

Tyler Ewan McCann & Kyle Alex Watson

OFFERTORY

The offertory for February totalled £4,397.49 and was made up of £2,880.17 pledged giving and £1,517.32 of loose plate giving

Thank you.