THE PARISH CHURCH OF STOKE                
DAMEREL (ST. ANDREW & ST. LUKE)

For the 10.00am Parish Eucharist  for today click here

Email:   info@stokedamerel.church                                          
www.Stokedamerel.church
www.facebook.com/StokeDamerelChurch

Sunday 4 May            3rd Sunday of Easter

THIS WEEK'S READINGS Merciful God,
we entrust to your tender care
those who are ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens
your everlasting arms
are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them,
and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:-
The sick:-
Maureen, John and Shirley, Margaret, Graham.
The long term sick and infirm:-
George, Peter, Diana, Liz, Keith, Rob, Clive.
The Ministry Team:-
Wendy, Ruth, Fiona, Marilyn and Rhona.

BLESSED SACRAMENT CANDLE

If you would like to have the candle lit for a week
for a particular prayer / thanksgiving /
commemoration, etc., please send a £5 donation to
Debbie Smith, clearly marking your donation as
being for the candle. Details of your intention can
be emailed to:- sarah.lundstrom@virginmedia.com
so that a mention of the commemoration, etc., can
appear in the Sunday Sheet.

SERVICES THIS WEEK
Stoke Damerel Parish Church is a hybrid church
open for public worship and private prayer and all
services will be live streamed.
By attending a live streamed service, you give
implied permission to have your image captured
on CCTV and to be broadcast as participant in the
liturgy.

In order to watch the livestreamed services please
‘click’ on this link to
make your way to YouTube site:
https://www.youtube.com/c/StokeDamerelChurch

Sunday 4 May                3rd Sunday of Easter
0800 Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Sue Nicholas
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist
Celebrant: Fr David Watson

Wednesday 7 May
1000 Said Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev Brian Wood

Sunday 11 May                4th Sunday of Easter
0800 Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Sue Nicholas
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Sue Nicholas

WELCOME BACK
To the Rev’d Sue Nicholas at 8am and
Fr David Watson at 10am.

FIONA’S FOOTNOTES
Just imagine that first Easter. After witnessing the
events of the crucifixion of Jesus, thinking that
everything you had experienced had been for
nothing. But then, you’re out fishing with the other
disciples, catching nothing, but then, on the shore
you see a figure who instructs you to try to fish on
the other side of the boat telling you that there you
will find fish. And of course you do.
Then one of the disciples, described in our Gospel
today as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’ tells Peter
that the figure on the shore is actually Jesus. At
this point Peter, ever super excitable, puts on some
clothes and jumps into the sea (which I imagine
isn’t as cold as UK waters). He swims to the shore
whilst the other disciples row back alongside him
dragging their heavy catch of fish with them. We
aren’t really told how the disciples react, except
that they are afraid to ask him who he is (because
they already know who he is). But perhaps this
reading is supposed to tell us what the Church will
be like instead. The disciples receive abundant
gifts in the form of the fish, everything they will
need to live for a good while. Jesus definitely gifts
us with everything that we need in that respect. It
might also tell us about our diversity. The disciples
probably caught a range of different fish and so the
Church catches all people at very different point in
their lives. The reading also tells us about the
hospitality of the Church, that sharing a meal
together is vital for our fellowship just as the
disciples immediately share a meal together when
they return to the shore.
I also read somewhere that before Easter
swimming appears to be an issue in the Gospels,
but not afterwards. That’s a bit tricky for me,
because I am an appalling swimmer! But perhaps
swimming symbolises that after the resurrection
we, like the disciples, are invited to take risks for
our faith, just like Peter who plunges into the sea
once he realises that Jesus is on the shore.
This week, with more glorious sunshine (and one
final assignment due) I treated myself to a trip to
Tavistock. Ice cream may have been involved!! I
enjoyed a peaceful walk along the river and then
the canal.
It being a Monday the market was closed, but this
does afford a certain quiet atmosphere to the town,
which was particularly enjoyable. Some photos
included. If the weather holds out tomorrow
(Friday, as I write this) then I’m planning a trip to
either Antony or Cotehele to use my National Trust
membership. There will, of course, be photos
taken whilst I’m there.
Please do continue to pray for all of the ordinands
who are due to be ordained on 28th June for the
Diocese of Exeter, but also please remember those
who will be priested this year too, including Rev
Scott Angell, and those of the Diocese of Truro
who will be ordained and priested this year. It’s an
exciting and terrifying time for all of us as we get
measured for cassocks and albs.
With love and prayers
Fiona.

ANNUAL MEETINGS
At last weekend’s Annual Meetings the following
people were elected:

Church Wardens:
Ms. Marilyn Goldsbrough & Mrs. Rhona Prichard.

PCC Members and responsibilities:
8 people were elected for 9 available places:
Andrew Brown – Chair
Mac Armstrong – Vice Chair
Debbie Smith – PCC Treasurer
Sarah Lundstrom – PCC Secretary
John Steere – Parish Safeguarding Officer
Tony Barnard
Rosie Chapman
Ann Pitt

PCC Ex Officio:
Wendy Pezzey – Deanery Synod Rep
Vacancy – Deanery Synod Rep
Ruth Sayers – CMS

Additional elections:
Christina Richardson has agreed to continue as
Gift Aid Secretary
Wendy Pezzey and Ruth Jordan will remain joint
Electoral Roll Officers
Wendy Pezzey has been re-elected as Deanery
Synod representative
Fiona Lang has stepped down as the second
Deanery Synod representative leaving a vacancy.

BLANKETS FOR UKRAINE
Great news!
On Tuesday three new blankets for Ukraine, wool
socks, hand puppets, incontinence pads. (on list as
urgently required in the displacement homes)
We are making a difference. Camouflage blanket
No 5 now under construction.
Thank you! The response is wonderful.
Ruth

MARILYN'S MEMOS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN MAY
Fiona Lang, Rev’d Sue, Diana Cooke, Lorna
Bartlett, James Bridgwater, Peter Harrison,
Margaret Bibby, Elaine Cresswell, Ruth Sayers.
And especially to Fiona who was celebrating on
Friday and Rev’d Sue who has a special birthday
on Tuesday.