St Andrew's West Dereham - Parish Notices

Information from St Andrew's on new projects and church activities

LENT GROUPS

By the time this edition of "The Pump" comes out Lent group will already have just started, but you will still be in time to join in for most of the remaining sessions. The subject of the York Courses this year is "These three, Faith, Hope and Love"

The nearest course for "Pump" readers will be at the home of Janet Gough, on Friday evenings at 7.30pm (Tel: 500031). Lesley Pearce is also running a day-time course, but held in Downham Market, to facilitate elderly participants. (Tel: 500283)

JOINT PCC MEETING

This year, St Andrew's, West Dereham, plays host to gathering of PCC members from the Denver group, including St Mary's, Denver, St Michael's Ryston, and St Mary the Virgin, Bexwell. Plans for the year's programme of services are made at this meeting, including

"bids" for the optimal dates for Harvest festival, Carol Services and notes taken of other special events in the group's churches.

DEANERY LENT SERVICES

The round of Wednesday Deanery Services calls at Bexwell, St Mary's on Wed, 11th march at 7.30pm. There will be a visiting speaker

St ANDREW'S PCC

The next PCC meeting, is on Monday 16th March, when our major consideration will be the ways to raise the balance of the funds needed to complement those granted by English Heritage to complete the restoration of the two large North windows and the renovation of the

South porch. Also under consideration will be the provision of toilets for the church, and the revision of the internal porch to provide a platform for the new pipe-organ, presently in store.

MOTHERING SUNDAY

We specially invite all Mums and Grannies to come along to our special service on Mothering Sunday when Motherhood will be the main theme,and posies, made by your children, will be presented with a blessing.The service begins at 9.30am that day, and will conclude with

coffee/tea and biscuits.

JOINT SERVICE

As March has five Sundays, St Mary's Bexwell will host the group service at 10.30am. There will be a guest preacher, and the Rysdenderbex Chorale will be leading the singing, with a special anthem. (If you wish to join the choir, please phone 500470)

EASTER SUNDAY CONFIRMATIONS with BISHOP DAVID This will also be a service at which the choir will sing, so lots of Friday practices! Bishop David is our new Bishop of Huntingdon, the Suffragan (or No. 2) Bishop of the Ely Diocese. He is a lively chap with a 'punchy' delivery, and who delights in the drama of confirmation, including spraying as much of the congregation with Holy Water as he can, during the ceremony. Sit near the front for a splash!

DOWNHAM CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT,

STANDREW'S WEST DEREHAM, TUESDAY 7TH APRIL, 7.30PM

we are grateful for this offer to boost our fundraising. Please come along and enjoy an evening of beautiful music.

REFRESHMENTS INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAMME

RYSTON EVENSONGS

In 2008, St Michael's Church, Ryston held a very successful series of evensongs on the third Sunday of the six 'summer'months. The first of the 2009 series begins on Sunday 19th April, at 6pm

ELY CHORAL FESTIVAL - SATURDAY 16TH MAY

Choirs from around the Diocese will be rehearsing for the above festival: This year, there will be special treat in that the mass choirs will be conducted by John Rutter, and the programme will include an anthem which he is specially composing for the event. Mr Rutter, who lives in Cambridge, is well known and loved for his many, beautiful Christmas carols, new and arrangements of old favourites, and for a huge volume of other choral music. He is an enthusiastic conductor, and if you have a chance to join in this event, please phone 500470, and I will put you in touch. The preceding rehearsals are Feb 23rd at Ely Cathedral, and Monday 20th April, with a final run-thru on the afternoon of the actual festival in May. Music £5.

Chris Young