Sunday 28th April, 5th Sunday of Easter (4th after Easter)

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Priory on the Fifth Sunday of Easter (‘fourth after’ in the BCP). We warmly greet you for our worship today, and whether you have come from near or far, it will be great to worship God together. Do stay for coffee.

Today, John Butterworth, from Open Doors, is preaching and leading the children’s talk. Over 365 million Christians face persecution and discrimination - that's one in seven believers worldwide. John will tell us more and invite us to pray.

The APCM was held on Wednesday evening, and we had a good night of celebration (and puddings!). The turnout was excellent. David and Neil will return as Churchwardens, and the new PCC will see some fresh faces join. Phillippa's wonderful picture show of the life of our church over a year was amazing. So much has been achieved, particularly with the Friends and the Church working together.

Dylan’s ‘signature’ cleaning focus this week has been the area outside the choir vestry, and what a transformation! Undaunted, Dylan is tackling the ‘holy of holies’ next week—the clergy/custos vestry. Watch this space! We are hoping to have a big church clean with volunteers we are calling 'Dylan’s Cleaning Angels’ on Saturday 18th May at 9:30am, straight after Morning Prayer. If you would like to be a cleaning angel, just come along. Refreshments via Just a Cuppa will be on hand.

Ascension Day is on Thursday, May 9th. We begin with a tower-top service (which is great fun!) at 9:00am - all are welcome. Then, there is a service of Holy Communion (BCP) at 11:30am, where Marje will be celebrating 30 years of her ordination as one of the first women deacons to become priests in the Worcester diocese. Please note that this replaces the Wednesday communion service for that week. In the evening, there is a Deanery Service for Ascension at 7:30pm at St Peter's Church Powick. Do join us.

Every blessing, Rod