On Ascension Day, the disciples, after watching Jesus ascend into heaven, are asked by two angels why they are standing looking into the sky when there is work to be done! We too are called to the same work the disciples were; to spread the Good News of Jesus, to be involved in our local communities doing good and to be involved in our own parish, helping out where ever possible.
As we begin to live lives more normally and as the Church calls us all back to practicing our faith each Sunday in person, it is a perfect time to take stock, to reflect and to think about how we can all get involved in all of these areas, but perhaps especially within the Parish. Could you help clean, could you help set up for Mass or tidy away afterwards, could you help welcome people, would you like to be an altar server, a reader, an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist? If you answer yes to any of these, please do speak to Fr Paul, or use the Contact Form to get in touch. Our parish relies on the help of its own parishioners to grow and flourish.
Have you heard of TWAM?
Tools with a Mission (TWAM) is a Christian charity enabling people to earn a living and support themselves and their families. In many countries people have few skills, little education and no means of earning a living. A switch from aid dependency to self-sufficiency is impossible without help. TWAM started over thirty years ago, and has since provided this help by collecting and refurbishing tools and equipment no longer required in the UK and sending them overseas. Through collectors and centres across the UK, its team of dedicated volunteers and supporters help transform thousands of lives every year.
If you have some tools that are no longer required and you would like to donate these for re-use in the third world, please contact TWAM on 01473 210220 or by email.
TWAM is also especially keen to receive donations of sewing machines and desktop or laptop computers that are no longer required, and will arrange collection from you if you cannot get them to its Hadleigh Road centre in Ipswich.
If you have some spare time and would like to consider a volunteering role with TWAM based at its Hadleigh Road site, please also contact them using the above details or visit the TWAM website for more information.
If you would like to read the TWAM supporter's April newsletter, please click on the image left.
Are you interested in working with children and young people? Are you leaving school or university in the summer and thinking about what to do next? Are you in-between jobs, or would you like to do something 'different'? The Diocesan Youth Service is looking for people age 18-35 to join the Ignite Team, sharing the Gospel Message with young people. These are full-time positions, initially for either 12 months (September intake) or 6 months (January intake), with training, food, accommodation and a monthly allowance provided. For more information visit the Diocesan Youth Service web site by clicking here.
A breath-taking new video giving views both inside and outside of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich not seen for 120 years has been released by its creator Brian Lafferty of Eastern Counties Drones. Videographer Brian flew one of his drones high above the 120-year-old cathedral giving rarely-before seen views and then went inside to record stunning new footage.
Brian said: “The Cathedral is such a wonderful building both inside and out. I was asked to do some minor roof work for the Cathedral by the architect Suzi Pendlebury during the re-roofing of the Cathedral, this came after the drone work I had done for our own roof project at St Mary’s Church, Great Yarmouth. The drone work helped to obtain two grants to re-roof the church. “When doing the roof project, permission without restriction was granted to fly inside the Cathedral to inspect some windows. “It was such a remarkable experience to get views that were last seen 120 years ago by the builders, I am so grateful to have contributed to the history of the Cathedral and look forward to more projects.”
You can watch Brian's remarkable video on YouTube by clicking here.
Would all those parishioners who normally make their weekly offering using Giftaid envelopes please note that their new 2023/24 envelopes are now available for collection from the Narthex. If you can't find your envelopes in the box please write your name on the sheet provided for this purpose and they will be made available to you next weekend.
If anyone who has already signed up to giving by Giftaid has changed their address during the last year or did not pay sufficient income or capital gains tax to cover the tax reclaimable on their offerings then please notify either Fr Paul or Chris Croker (Giftaid Co-ordinator).
The tax reclaimable from HMRC is an important source of funds for our parish and currently makes up 9% of our annual income. It is therefore strongly recommended that those of you who pay tax but have not made a Giftaid declaration do so as soon as possible. There is no ongoing commitment and it will boost the value of your offering to the parish by 25% at no cost to yourself. Forms are available in the Narthex along with Standing Order forms if you would prefer to pay by this method and, when completed, these should be handed to either Fr. Paul or Chris Croker.
At the Finance Committee meeting held on Friday 17th February, the annual parish accounts for 2022 were presented and approved. The headline is that the parish made a loss last year of £700 for the year, and the details of the figures are now available on the notice board in the church porch, or can be downloaded here.
If you have any clean, empty 500g butter tubs with lids, these are wanted by TWAM (Tools With A Mission). They are the perfect size to fill with small items like screws, fixings, haberdashery items etc, to be shipped to Africa to help self-starters with small business setup. If you have any such tubs, please bring them to church for the attention of Michael Long.
You can read about TWAMs work in its newsletter here or visit its website here.
We have received a letter from Heather Cade, one of the trustees of FIND, thanking the parish for its donations and contributions to the Christmas appeal this year. A copy of the letter is pinned on the notice board in the church porch, or click the image right to read the letter on-line.
Thank you for your generosity in supporting this year's appeal, and for your ongoing generosity in supporting FIND through your donations to our FIND tub throughout the year.
We are intending to reinstate the church cleaning rota, and are looking for volunteers who will be able to help support this. The time involved will be in the order of 2 hours per month, although this would be reduced by more volunteers coming forward and thereby reducing the overhead on individuals. If you can help, please speak to Linis Dolby, use the contact form or email her.
The Universe Catholic Weekly is true to its mission of being “a light to guide the world, and a mirror to reflect it”, keeping Catholics informed about their faith, and bringing them ever closer to God. In order to allow the Universe to keep its high standard going and maintain a strong weekly Catholic voice at a time when it is much needed in the world, please consider taking out a subscription. There is currently a free 4 week introductory offer - you can sign up for this by calling Michelle Jones, the circulation manager, on 07436 617650 or contact her by email or click here for more details.
You can read this week's Universe Catholic Weekly by clicking here.
The Universe has an excellent website full of trustworthy articles and an online shop with all subscribers receiving a 10% discount - visit the website by clicking here.
