10th March 2013

The Parish Churches of

St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with

St Saviour Aston by Stone

Synod Makes History

A HISTORY making Diocesan Synod will this month open its floor to all-comers on the debate of Women Bishops. It is thought to be the first time in the Synod's lifetime that such an opportunity has been given and comes with the blessing of all four bishops. Some 75-minutes within the day long meeting on 16th March is being set aside for views to be expressed.

Under standing orders governing the synod, anyone can attend but only elected members can participate in the debate or vote.

During the open meeting non-members will be able to speak to two key points - What we can do in this diocese to help General Synod pass legislation that enables women to be consecrated as bishops – as has already been agreed in principle – while acknowledging and respecting those who oppose the change?  What steps we need to take to recover the credibility of synodical governance?

The open meeting decision has led to a change in venue to Rising Brook Baptist Church in Stafford to cater for the larger number of people expected to attend and the open meeting will be chaired by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill.

People who wish to speak synod meeting are being asked to submit a Request to Speaker application The Synod meeting is on 16th March beginning at 9.30am at Rising Brook Baptist Church, Burton Square, Stafford, ST17 9LT

Maundy Thursday Eucharist in Lichfield Cathedral

When Jesus loved his disciples on the first Maundy Thursday “he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). That mandate to love and be loved has been passed down the generations to our own, producing the largest human movement in history. Now we are part of that movement and on Maundy Thursday we renew our share in Christ’s lordly service to his people.

So it is with great pleasure and some awe that I invite you to the Cathedral on 28th March for 11.00 am to renew your dedication to the Lord and to receive oils hallowed for ministry. This is not (unlike the Selwyn Lecture and the Clergy Conference) a three-line whip occasion because the Diocese is very large and many of us will be overwhelmed by services that week. But it is a warm invitation and one that I hope you will accept often if not every year. I pray it will be a time of refreshment rather than a burden. Why not be like those who come with parish minibuses from the farthest corners of the Diocese?

Yours sincerely in his love,

Johnathan Lichfield

Please pray for the sick in the benefice:

Dorothy Burton, Mary Townsend, Vi Smith, Rosie Kent, Bunty Beecham, Toyah Carter, Kathleen Pickering, Norma Deakin, Joan & Albert Pinfield, Maureen Evans, Marie Hawley, Frank Beech & Caitlin Austin

And for the departed:

Michelle Beardmore, Margaret Taberner, Samuel Cann

Remembering their families and friends at this time

This week:

Monday 11^th March 7.30pm Stone PCC meets in Church

Tuesday 12^th 10.15am for 10.30am Prompt – Mothers Union & ladies Guild – St M&W

Church for Holy Communion with the Rector

11.45-1pm Drop-Inn lunch – St Michael’s Hall

Wednesday 13^th 7.30pm Holy Communion & Lent address – St M&W

Thursday 14^th 10.30am Holy Communion – St Michael & St Wulfad

LENT COURSE 13th March –“ Let’s all go green”  - Creation

Ethics & economics—The Rev’d Ian Cardinal

THE BIG SPRING CLEAN is looming at St Michael’s on Saturday 23^rd March. This is a massive area to tackle of course and your help is needed if we are to do more than “scratch the surface.” Please have a word with Nichola or Jean if you can come

FOOD BANK Last week a leaflet came through some doors in Stone labeled “Staffordshire Food bank.” This is nothing to do with the Stafford group ‘House of Bread’ that we support in Church and it has become apparent that items given are being passed on for sale, though admittedly at cheap rates. ‘House of Bread’ gives food away freely to the Homeless and we are happy to support them