March 2004

Dear Friends,

Well, you will have all heard by now that our waiting is nearly over and that we are to have a new Vicar, Canon Malcolm Convery, from Marown, to lead us forward. We must all pray for him as he prepares for this new challenge and thank God for bringing us such an experienced priest.

In the mean time the penitential season of Lent is upon us.

“Giving up for Lent” somehow smacks of defeat and despair almost, whereas it ought to be a period when we make time to draw closer to God and determine his purposes for us and our parish.

There are many ways of doing this and emphasising the positive side of this short season. Our bookstand for example contains many challenging opportunities for quiet study and our Key Groups too offer a more active participation in exploring Christian lifestyle in fellowship with others.

I was personally challenged recently in connection with this whole question of ‘meeting together’ by a verse from the Letter to the Hebrews (10.25) “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

And I know I have written before about these gatherings, but they do provide an opportunity to enjoy worship, Bible study, and prayer for each other, fellowship, support and encouragement, in a relaxed environment.
Group discussions like these are in a sense no less a discipline than other more traditional Lenten observances.

And no letter would be complete at this point in time without a mention of Christian Stewardship. For a tremendous word of thanks is called for to all who continued to pledge or joined for the first time in this equally vital element of our Christian witness.

Also, so many have given so much time and energy in making it happen successfully that it would be invidious to single out particular names. Suffice it to say that without adequate leadership it would not have happened and without the very large number of helpers in so many ways it could not have succeeded.

As I write the final pledges are coming in and an announcement will be made at the first ‘Giving Service’ on the 7th of this month as to how near
we have come to our target and the responses to the ‘Time and Talents’ aspect of the Campaign.

May you have a blessed and refreshing Lent and may it help you to extend Christ’s own love and care for his people in this place.

Yours in Christ

Les Lawrinson

MOTHERS UNION

The afternoon group had a very interesting meeting on the 10th February when they were joined by Fire Officer Carl Kinvig who explained "Fire Prevention in the Home" giving us all food for thought.

The evening group met on the 19th February and were joined by Alison Foster for "Praise Him on the Tambourine" – a good time was had by all.

We now look forward to March’s diary –

10.00 am 4th March Douglas Deanery Coffee Morning at 'Woodlands'
2.30 pm 5th March Women's World Day of Prayer at Onchan
Methodist Church
2.00 pm 9th March Mrs Jacqy Frear – "Let's be a Working Party" – in the Parish Hall
7.45 pm 18th March Clay Workshop with Wendy Allen
Phone Wendy on 616039 to book a place.
9.00 am 20th March Make Mothering Sunday Posies in Church
2.00 pm 23rd March Mrs Gladys Gillatt – "Journey of a Lifetime"
in the Parish Hall
2.30 pm 25th March Diocesan Festival and Lady Day Service at
Peel Cathedral.

Regarding the Diocesan Festival and Lady Day Service, a coach will be leaving the Commissioners Car Park at 1.15 pm – Service at 2.30 pm in the Cathedral – followed by tea in Harbour Lights Restaurant, Peel Promenade – return coach trip to Onchan.

Lent Lunches start again on 25th February and continue every Wednesday up to and including 7th April. Lunch is served from 12 noon to 1.30 pm at a cost of only £2.50 for soup and a bread roll followed by a dessert, finished off with a cup of tea or coffee.

HELP PLEASE – are there any MEN out there who could help the ladies put up the tables for the lunches between 9.00am and 9.30am on the Wednesday mornings – please contact Sylvia on 627664 – Thank you.

The ladies of the Mothers' Union will again be preparing the posies for Mothering Sunday – do you have any daffodils in your garden? or could you buy a bunch? – if you can help please leave them in the buckets provided in church on Friday 19th March – Thanks very much.

This month our special prayer for the International Year of the Family is for ‘Sibling Relationships’:

Lord, thank you for our brothers and sisters
and for the strong tie of a shared past
that binds us together.
Place a guard on our mouths,
a sentry at the door of our lips.
Help us to be gentle, compassionate,
courteous and tender-hearted
towards each other;
to be peacemakers in our home.
Help us to treat each other with respect,
and to learn to live together
in harmony and accord.
Amen.

LADIES FELLOWSHIP

Mrs Mildred Cooper came on 18th February and entertained us with her 'Musical Memories' – a very interesting and busy life she has led and indeed still enjoys.

We are to be enlightened by Mrs E. Mills on 3rd March when she will be telling us 'All about Bees'. Please note that our meeting on the 24th March starts at 7.30 pm and we will be joined by the members of the Mothers Union and the Methodist Ladies Group and Mr Derek Hatley, who is the new co-ordinator for the Isle of Man Leprosy Mission.

OR SALE

Mrs Emily Hamer has an Singer Electric Sewing Machine for sale – proceeds to the Parish Hall Fund. If you would like more information please contact Jane at the Parish Office.

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CHRISTINE'S BIRTHDAY BASH

Many thanks to Christine (& Malcolm) Turner for coming up with the idea of holding her 60th Birthday celebrations in the Parish Hall and asking for donations in lieu of presents to go to the 'Parish Hall Appeal' – and what a great success if was – raising over £500! The Appeal Committee wishes to thank everyone for their generous donations.

But it wasn't just the money – Insy-Winsy belted out 60's tune after 60's tune, everyone joined in the dancing (even if some of us were a little stiff the next day), the food was fabulous – and a great time was had by all – roll on your 70th Christine!!!


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SALE OF
BABY CLOTHES, EQUIPMENT, TOYS
AND MATERNITY WEAR
(organised by Dawn Kewley)

WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH
at 7.30 pm
in the
PARISH HALL, ROYAL AVENUE

ADMISSION: 50p

IN AID OF THE PARISH HALL APPEAL

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

PAT & REG CALLIN

WHO CELEBRATE THEIR

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
ON TUESDAY 16TH MARCH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please send a note of any Celebrations to Jane at the
Parish Office so they can be included in future Reviews.
Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LENT LUNCHES
Home made soups-desserts-coffee
12 noon to 1.30 p.m.
Every Wednesday
25th February to 7th April incl.
in
The Parish Hall, Onchan

£2.50 – All Welcome

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK – 9th to 15th May, 2004

Place: St. Peter's Church, Onchan
Time: Just after the end of Christian Aid Week, 2003.
The conversation is remembered as something like this … "So, why didn't anyone come collecting for Christian Aid in our road? I expected somebody would!"
"Well, we just didn't have enough people volunteer to collect, so we had to miss lots of streets and home …. but, perhaps you'd like to help out with Christian Aid next time? I'll take your contact details right now, if you wish". "Er, no, well …. perhaps I'll see about that next year".

But …. will there be a collector for that road this year? Last year, only 12 from the entire congregation of St. Peter's felt able to help. Yet, between them they called at nearly 800 properties and collected £1,164 about £1.45 per home. So, added to the donations collected by our Methodist friends, Onchan contributed £3,075 of the Island's total £25,179. Our Government generously added £ for £ and it all went to a specific project in Uganda, most for educating youngsters about HIV/AIDS – to save lives.

There are some 3,500 homes in Onchan, for the two churches to visit in one week. Should I be ordering more collectors' identity badges and envelopes for use by YOU, the St. Peter's congregation? If you do feel moved to help, it would be good to hear from you quite soon – or, who knows, we may not get enough badges to go round!

Eric Foster (627425)

FROM THE REGISTERS

BAPTISMS

Edward Eoin Callow, Milly Valerie Duggua,
Leigh Simon Kneen, William Eric Price

WEDDINGS

Stephen Arrowsmith and Claire Albinson

FUNERALS

Margaret Irene Kilgour, Phyllis Moseley, Neil William Roberton,
John Kenyon, Annie Florence Kingston, Jean Sayle

OFFERTORY

The offertory for January totalled £8,984.42 and was made up of £7,926.97 pledged giving and £1,057.45 of loose plate giving

Thank you.