Lunches:
We now have a regular soup-and-cheese lunch on the second Sunday of the month at
the St Andrew Centre. It started with about six ‘customers’ , but now we have over
two dozen, with the amount of interest still increasing.
Initially as an introductory thing, the glass of sherry has become a regular feature
as has a glass of wine! Home made soups are always on offer, with a variety of cheeses,
fresh bread and fruit to follow.
Donations are invited which go 50/50 to the church and to our charity of the month.
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CHOIR:
Our Junior Choir goes from strength to strength, but with the inevitable drop-off
as children change schools and so on, we have room for a few more.
Practices are on Wednesdays 3.45pm to 4.45pm in term time, and we sing at the 9.30am
service on the first Sunday in the month (term times). The choristers are paid for
each appearance at practice or church, and receive a very good rate for singing at
weddings.
The adult choir could also welcome one or two additional members, all voices, and
the ability to read music is not required; just have a good ear and enthusiasm.
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Defenders is a new after school club catering for those from school year 1 to year
6. There are two clubs in two locations
Each session costs £1 and runs from 3.45pm-5pm (although parents and children are
welcome to arrive from 3.30pm where they can grab a drink!).
For more information please contact Kate: kdoransmith@enyp.org.uk
At Petertide 2012, we were joined by a new curate, David Smith. David took over where Fr. Chris ‘left off’ when he moved away to be an incumbent in his own parish. David was ordained deacon in Norwich Cathedral on 30th June.
David comes with his wife, Naomi, and lives at 9, Pine Road, and they produced Catherine shortly afterwards.
David will be ordained priest on June 29th this year.
Cafe Church:
With regular sung eucharistic services at the Parish Church and Good Shepherd at 9.30a.m. and 11.15a.m. respectively, some might have thought us a bit reckless starting a new venture at 10.30 in the St Andrew Centre, our Church Hall.
However, following the success over three years of our Teddy Bears’ services, namely Teddy Bears’ Picnic in July, Teddy Bears’ Harvest in the autumn, and Mother Bears on Lent 4, we felt the Spirit was moving us to add on to our flourishing Junior Church and Junior Choir activities.
As a consequence, and with the support of the East Norwich Youth Project, we launched Café Church in January 2012. Worship is intermingled with toast and marmalade, cups of tea or squash, and a lively selection of songs with plenty of toys for the younger ones to play with.
As a result, we seem to have formed a new congregation of about 45 and proved you can be a church that swings the incense and bangs the tambourine (but not yet at the same service)!
A NEW BUILDING SCHEME
In the autumn of 2012 we embarked on a major scheme to provide modern toilets at the Parish Church which will be available for the less mobile.
A new building has been built at the rear of the church with improved access to the vestry and sacristy.
In addition new kitchen/catering facilities have been constructed across the West end of the church substantially to improve the safety and convenience of providing refreshments. This will make such things possible after not only church services but also any community events such as concerts.
W e are having to fund this ourselves, and any contributions towards the substantial costs would be much appreciated. The toilets part of the scheme was finished in early 2013 and blessed by the Bishop of Norwich on Palm Sunday 2013.