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 15 March                Mothering Sunday
 

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, Wendy.
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 Barbara Jean Allen,
known as Jean, who died on 22nd February. We
pray for her family 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 15 March              Mothering Sunday
0800 Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Dr Sacha Pearce
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Dr Sacha Pearce

Wednesday 18 March
Please note there is NO Morning Prayer today

Sunday 22 March            Fifth Sunday of Lent
0800 Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Rev’d Brian Wood
1000 Sung Parish Eucharist & Baptism of Lemmy
Celebrant: Rev’d Sue Nicholas

WELCOME BACK
To Rev’d Dr Sacha Pearce.

BAPTISM – SUNDAY 22 MARCH
Many of you will know Lemmy – Crucifer at our
10am Sunday services.
On Sunday 22nd March, Lemmy is to be Baptised
within the 10am service. Please pray for Lemmy
as she prepares for this important declaration of
her faith and, if you are able, come to the service
to support her and celebrate with her.
Rev’d Sue

FOUND
An earbud has been found on the floor in church.
It’s waiting in the choir vestry to be claimed by
its owner.

MARILYN'S MEMOS

Mothering Sunday 15th March
In early spring in the UK we celebrate Mothering
Sunday by giving flowers, cards and spending
family time together where possible. Our
celebration date is different to others around the
world. The origins go back several hundred years
and the date is tied to the Christian calendar and
falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent which is three
weeks before Easter. As we know, Easter dates
move each year and so do Mothering Sunday
dates.
Mothering Sunday was significant as far back as
the Middle Ages and was not a day to celebrate
mothers as nowadays, but a day to return to the
“mother church” in the home area to attend a
special service during Lent. In years gone by,
domestic servants and apprentices were given the
day off to return to their home towns and spend
time with their families. The occasion gradually
took on a broader meaning and visiting “mothers”
became the main focus, with the family coming
together to go to church.
Our Mothering Sunday has begun to resemble
other celebrations around the world. Gifts are
given and many restaurants are very booked up
by family members taking their mothers out for
a treat. Daffodils are especially popular and we
thank our flower team for the surprise awaiting us
this coming Sunday. What started as a religious
celebration has evolved into a family gathering of
appreciation and care.

CANCELLATION ON 18TH MARCH:
MORNING PRAYER AND LENT COURSE 4
Apologies to all concerned as Wendy and I cannot
be present next Wednesday. We have discussed this
with those attending and clarified that there will be
enough time for two remaining sessions before
Easter.

LENT COURSE 3
Our course so far has led us to consider that God is
our destination in life and Jesus is our life’s
direction. Our second message for consideration is
that “Man cannot live on bread alone” and that
Jesus provides us with spiritual nourishment.
Last Wednesday we discussed the difference
between light from a lamp, which illuminates that
which is near at hand compared with the light from
Jesus which shines upon all of us. This is the third
spiritual essential for real life is the light of Jesus
which shines in the darkness and shows us who we
really are.
These concepts are challenging and are keeping us
on our toes! The week after next we will be
looking at the theme of shelter.

Our Wednesday Lent course

DATES FOR GARDEN TIDY AND
CHURCH CLEAN BEFORE EASTER
On Sunday we will consider dates for the above
and request help accordingly. Easter is racing
towards us.

WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER “would be”
LUMBER JACK IN OUR MIDST

Many thanks to Mary who has scoured our
surrounding area and made a large collection of
small branches and twigs which have fallen from
trees in our churchyard. This is a really useful and
worthwhile task and has cleared the area for future
mowing. Thank you so much, Mary, for your time
and effort in keeping our surroundings in good
order.

MONDAY 23RD MARCH
An auspicious date as our PCC, that of St Aubyn’s,
St Michael’s and PTO clergy meet together, to
discuss the Bishop and Archdeacon’s proposal to
re-establish the former United Benefice.

SUNDAY 29TH MARCH PLYMOUTH CONCERTS
The Martin Dale Quarter will be featuring in this
concert, to begin at 3pm.

ELECTORAL ROLL
Please don’t forget to ask Ruth or Wendy about
your eligibility to join our electoral roll.
This Sunday and next Sunday are the two
opportunities to join.

Electoral Roll Revision timetable
15 March    Revision of Electoral Roll opens
29 March   Revision of Electoral Roll closes
5 April        Revised Electoral Roll published
19 April      APCM Electoral Roll presented to the meeting.

Ruth Jordan and Wendy Pezzey are our Electoral
Roll officers if you have any questions.
Marilyn

EASTER EXCITEMENT
And not just chocolate! Over the
Easter period there are a number of
'dramatised' readings requiring
'audience participation'. I'm looking for volunteers
to contribute please (in addition to the usual
readers) and will be putting a 'sign up' list at the
back of church together with a copy of the service
booklets (so you can see how minimal the input
can be); Palm Sunday (29/3) - 8 in no., Good
Friday (3/4) - 5 in no. and Easter Vigil (4/4) - up to
10 in no.
Thanks in anticipation.
Ian G.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN MARCH
Geoff Bersey, Jenny Whalley, Ellie Brown,
Katie Armstrong, Jean Farrar, Jackie Richmond.

NOW SPRING IS REALLY ARRIVING
Even though the year so far seems to have been
mostly wet, the temperatures are now generally
rising, and the garden is suddenly springing into
life. We have already seen the Witch Hazel
showing far more scented blooms than usual,
and four of the large Camelia bushes are now all
covered in many wonderful bright pink and red
flowers.

It is also a delight to now look out from the lounge
and see the many bright Daffodils and sweetly
scented Narcissi all around the garden. The picture
below also includes the first flowering Forget-me-
nots and a large clump of delightful Grape
Hyacinths.

Having only recently employed tree surgeons to
drastically prune the Magnolia, we were waiting to
see how that tree would react. Obviously, having
been pruned late, there is much less new growth
than usual. However, some large pink flowers are
now opening, and many small leaf buds are also
appearing.

Close in by the south facing bungalow wall there
are even a couple of self-seeded Snapdragons
already in bloom, well before the normal timing.
Bumble Bees and Butterflies have already visited
for some early nectar.

We have recently sown about forty Sweet Pea
seeds indoors and look forward to planting those
out, once the chance of frosts is over.
The birds all seem to be getting ready for Spring
as well. The Robins are now paired up, as are the
Goldfinches and Bullfinches. Last week we were
delighted to see the annual arrival of one of our
tiny visiting Goldcrests, enjoying the nectar now
available from the many Witch Hazel flowers.
Hopefully, his / her mate will turn up soon as well.

The number of courting Woodpigeons has
increased, although the grumpy one below did
not enjoy the recent misty day.

Tony Barnard