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‘If someone asked you ‘How is your prayer life?’, and you answered honestly, how would you describe it?

Uplifting? Exciting? Boring? Taxing? Regular? Hit-or-miss? Non-existent?

We all know that prayer is an essential part of Christian life. We can all say too that some times we find it easy and rewarding, and others we struggle with it in all sort of ways. No matter how old we are in years or in faith, none of us has completely ‘nailed it’ yet!

Improve your prayer life at Radical peace: a prayer workshop on Saturday 16 November.

Radical means getting back to the root, the basics; but it also means being willing to make a significant and crucial change for the better. We will take the morning to look at how we can have a better prayer life, and to find the peace of God in it. We will have some teaching around prayer ‘giants’, past and present, and have a go at a variety of practical exercises to refresh and expand our experience.

We’ll start at 9.30am on Saturday 16 November, and finish by 11.45am. Coffee will be served at 9am and we will also break for refreshments mid-morning. Anyone who wishes to stay on for a bit at the end for further personal prayer, or to receive prayer ministry, may do so.

Everyone aged 14 (Year 10) and over is welcome! This is a wonderful opportunity for groups and teams (e.g. home groups, Core, the Welcome Team, etc.) to come together for fellowship and growth. Individuals are, of course, no less welcome! This is a free event. To assist us in our preparations, registration will be via Eventbrite or you can sign up in the Link. Feel free to contact me at discipleship@stsaviours.net.

Laura Simpkins, discipleship coordinator

Pat Smart encourages some cheerful giving as she brings us a round-up of St Saviour’s financial news

Earlier this year we launched an appeal for Fabric Funds as we need to replace our church doors (we have done one) and redecorate the church. So, we have been holding various fundraising events over the last few months and we have more in the pipeline – the next one is the Light-hearted Quiz Night at 7pm on Saturday 21 September, being run by that comic duo the Bendell Boys, which we hope will be well supported and enjoyed by you – they are usually so much fun!! (Please do bring your own drinks and glasses.)

On a more serious note we do need more people to sign up for regular giving as we are struggling as a church to pay our way, especially meeting our Parish Share contribution (that’s the funds that pay for our ministers, housing, pensions, etc.)

As a church we are very active and busy. Just look at all the events that are re-starting after the summer break. All our clubs and events need funding, so if your child attends any of these, do think about whether you would like to donate to a particular event. Not just money, but our time too – all the clubs need extra helpers. Not helped before? Then have a word with Caz Gatehouse – she will be glad to speak to you and give you more info.

You can give on a regular basis by standing order, by using the yellow or blue envelopes, or better still by the Parish Giving Scheme. Not given before? Or wish to increase? Then have a word with me Pat Smart, or the churchwardens – we are always happy to speak to you.

Last year we held a successful Gift Day and we propose to hold one again later this autumn. Please start to consider what you might be able to gift and keep a look out for further details.

‘Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’ 2 Corinthians 9 verse 7

God bless you in your giving.

Pat Smart, treasurer

Phil Smith encourages us all to sing to the Lord from our hearts

I have met so many people over the years who are fearful or reluctant to sing, or who have not done so for many years due to a negative, critical opinion imposed on them in the past about their singing voice. This is a tragedy, not only because many of whom I have since heard actually have very lovely singing voices, but also in light of one of the main reasons we were created.

The psalmist sings, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139 verses 13-14). In their book entitled Sing!, Keith and Kristyn Getty say, “Singing is not merely a happy by-product of God’s real intent of making us creatures who can speak. It is something we’re designed to be able to do.”

The reality is that we can all sing – perhaps not as in tune as we would each like or in the same tone and clarity as our favourite artiste, but the physical mechanics for us to do so have been knit together within us and the “knitter” is longing to hear and treasure the sound raised in worship to Him. Who among you does not cherish the sound of your child/grandchild/niece/nephew when they let out a little song, irrespective of actual pitch and tonality? How much more does our Father love to hear our songs?

By contrast to timid/reluctant singing during my student days in Bristol, I attended a church that, on one particular evening, was being recorded during the singing to be featured on Songs of Praise. I remember to this day having left the service feeling slightly sickened with the stark observation that the enthusiasm of the singing and volume of attendance was far in excess compared with every other service that I had attended there. Why did the congregation make more effort for the BBC than they normally do for their heavenly Father?

So, please can I encourage you, when we come to times of singing together, let’s remember who we’re worshipping and why, and raise our voices for His glory and pleasure alone. Let us forever “Sing and make music from [our hearts] to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5 verses 19b-20)

Phil Smith, worship team leader

Daniela says to ‘Go to the extreme! Reading the Bible cover to cover!’

In June/July we looked at the book of Nehemiah. There we learned that the people of Jerusalem were hungry for God. How could this hunger be stilled? By hearing the Word of God! They understood the only way to learn more about God is by listening to Scripture. With the result – revival broke out.

We at St Saviour’s are committed to read, teach, proclaim, and study the Word of God. That happens mostly in small chunks. But now we want to go to the extreme! Reading the Bible cover to cover.

Time and again when the Bible is read aloud, amazing things happen. Why? Because the Bible is God’s word which ‘is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’ (Hebrews 4 verse 12) The word of God is powerful! It has the ability to purify places, to transform the lives of the listener, and to change societies.

The Bible contains God’s wisdom as ‘all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3 verses 16-17)

This book is so much more than an ordinary book. Therefore God advised Joshua to ‘keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.’ (Joshua 1 verse 8)

Join us and immerse yourself in Scripture as we read the Bible cover to cover in five days over 75 hours. Let’s speak God’s Word over St Saviour’s and expect the unexpected!

Sign up and bring God’s Word to live!

Daniela Eisentraeger, lay minister

For more details about our ‘Bible in a week’ event and how to join in, click here.

Andy McPherson explains how to access pastoral care at St Saviour’s

St Saviour’s is known as a very loving and caring church. Pastoral care happens within so many areas of our church life. As Jo Giddens (a former Pastoral Care team co-ordinator) said, “It is wonderful to see God at work, as His love and caring compassion is shared. On a Sunday morning or in the Link on a weekday morning, to see folks looking out for each other, listening to each other, helping, praying and encouraging each other through the ups and downs of daily life, is a real blessing.”

Although much of St Saviour’s pastoral care takes place in an informal way, there are structures in place to try to ensure people’s needs are met. This is not a perfect system and sometimes we are not aware of individual needs, but there are a few ways into the system listed below.

The Pastoral Care team (Lynne Ferrone, Julie Melvin, Jan Randall, Laura Simpkins, and Harry Taylor, under the leadership of Andy McPherson) usually meets fortnightly to pray for those with pastoral needs, to plan and action specific support for individuals, to encourage and support those involved in the pastoral care of the church within the church, and to reflect and develop more effective ways of practising pastoral care. Do contact one of these people if you are in need of pastoral care.

Members of home groups sometimes share pastoral needs and, with the permission of members, these can be passed on to me or a member of the Pastoral Care team. Similarly pastoral needs arise for members of our various groups, e.g. Diamond Times, Thursday Club, children’s and youth groups, or through the Open Link, and again with the permission of individuals concerned, people who can help are made aware.

If anyone requires prayer as a result of an emergency situation, you can contact the Prayer Chain on 07989 211594 or email prayerchain@stsaviours.net and Jan Randall sensitively relays information to about 40 pray-ers from within the church family.

Mike and Joan Bowen regularly visit parishioners who are in hospital at the Royal Bournemouth. Sandra Tauson takes services in the Retired Nurses National Home and fulfils pastoral visits as and when required. Julie Melvin, in addition to members of the clergy, takes Home Communions to people who are housebound. Also cards, flowers and gifts are delivered to the homebound/sick/bereaved at certain times of the year such as Harvest, Easter and Christmas.

All this provision enables St Saviour’s to be more effective in its pastoral care under the guidance of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for us all.

Andy McPherson, vicar

Comfort Food is such an expression of God’s love says Lizzy Potter

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.’ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I will never forget the time when a friend unexpectedly left a casserole on our doorstep, with a note saying she’d made too much and hoped we might enjoy, or when a friend knocked on the door holding a cake she’d made simply to bless our family. Food made as an expression of love always tastes the best, in my experience! And this is exactly what the Comfort Food ministry is about – an expression of love, God’s love and comfort to ‘those in any trouble’. This year we’ve had the privilege of offering meals to a few members of the church family in times of need and as always I’m so thankful to those who have cooked and delivered food.

If you enjoy cooking and would like to get involved with Comfort Food, please do come and have a chat with me, I’d love to tell you more!

Lizzy Potter, Comfort Food coordinator