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

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

Please note: Stoke Damerel Church does not divulge
personal information to third parties.

Sunday 25 January                   Conversion of Paul
 

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, Margaret W, Graham, John S, Kathy, Mo, Matt, Bertie, Morwenna, David J.
The long term sick and infirm:-
George, Peter, Diana, Liz & Keith N, Rob, John and Shirley.
The recently departed:-
We give thanks for the life of David Sayers,
Mrs Henny Hagenburg and Patrick Carter.
We pray for their families and friends at this sad time.
The Ministry Team:-
Wendy, Ruth, 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.

Watch our livestreamed services
Please follow the link to make your way to our YouTube page: 

 STOKE DAMEREL YOUTUBE CHANNEL 

Sunday 25 January                Conversion of Paul
0800 Morning Prayer
Led by Ruth Sayers
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Mike Wagstaff
1130 PCC meeting

Wednesday 28 January
1000 Morning Prayer

Sunday 1 February            Presentation of Christ
                                                    in the Temple
0800 Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Dr Sacha Pearce
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Dr Sacha Pearce

WELCOME BACK
To Rev’d Mike Wagstaff who returns from
Torquay to take our 10am service this morning.
Thanks to Ruth also, who leads a service of
Morning Prayer at 8am.

MARILYN'S MEMOS

LOWER PARISH CENTRE
We are keeping our fingers crossed as there is now
a potential hirer and the contracts, which Rhona
and I have been working on with the diocesan
solicitor together with the agent, should be ready
to finalise next week: providing all clauses are
agreed.
Thank you to Rosanne and Oly for a two hour
cleaning session this week. Now the inside is
looking moderately presentable, as is the garden.
Many thanks again to all those who removed the
leaves and weeds the Saturday before. There are a
few additional jobs to do, and we hope to decide
upon these shortly.

PARKING IN FRONT OF THE MAIN
DOORS AND OUR CHURCH CAR PARK
We have written to DHSB to ask them politely if
they could possibly find alternative parking spaces
during the week as it is extremely inconvenient for
deliveries of goods and people with mobility 
challenges. Although the tempting spaces are often
empty first thing in the morning, we need easy
access at various times later in the day. We have
been asked to send registration numbers to them.
The sign for the CHURCH CAR PARK at the rear
has been replaced and we are looking to re-instate
the correct signage.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN JANUARY
Liz Neil, Ross Weekes.

SIGNS OF SPRING ALREADY
Last week we all saw so many images of the
devastation left by the storm which passed over the
two counties. After the storm had abated we tried
to walk through the local woods, but fallen
branches and trees impeded access. This week,
after most of the paths had been cleared, we tried
again. It is not a vast area of woodland, a long
narrow strip covering about seven hectares, but we
counted fourteen uprooted mature trees and many
others with damaged or torn boughs. Amongst it
all we noticed the many catkins now on the Hazel
and Silver Birch trees. The first sign that Spring is
not too far away. There are probably too many
Grey Squirrels in the wood but at this time of the
year, with no leaves yet on the trees, they can be
seen chasing each other throughout the canopy –
another certain sign that Spring is not far away.
Back in our garden, the local bird population seem
to be enjoying the new openness of the recently
pruned Magnolia, sitting on exposed branches
before heading for the bird feeders. Throughout the
Winter the Robin has fiercely defended his food
sources. Now he has a friend. No doubt they will
be nesting soon.



With the much-reduced size of the Magnolia tree,
we can now see over the top to some of the taller
distant trees to the south of the garden. Late in the
day at this time of year, Magpies, which at other
times only visit individually or in pairs, now gather
in large numbers before flying off to their evening
roosts. There are eight in the photograph above,
but we have previously seen a couple of dozen or
more in the same tree.

We have several areas around the garden where
daffodil bulbs have sprouted through the mulch
and are now quite tall. The flowers should follow
soon, and, under the Oak tree, the large Camelia
bush is already blooming.


We have not been fortunate enough to see any of
the recent colourful Northern Lights but have
enjoyed a few wonderful sunsets.

For those able to view locations where birds may
be seen, don’t forget to take part in the ‘Big
Garden Bird Watch’ this weekend and submit your
results to the RSPB on their website.
Tony Barnard