Fr Benjamin's Letter

                                             Events at your
             Parish Church in September

I am asking all members of St Paul’s to engage with three special events in September 2011, which have been arranged by the Nurture and Outreach Committee.

Sunday 11th ‘Back to Church Sunday’
10am Sung Mass followed by Coffee

Sunday 18th  ‘Our Community Festival’ – [Run by Redbridge Council]
12 noon until 4.00p.m. in Barley Lane Recreation Park
Fun; Games; Food Stalls and Shows for the whole family.
St. Paul`s Church will also be open and for afternoon teas

Sunday 25th ‘Harvest Thanksgiving’ 
10a.m. Sung Mass followed by a shared parish lunch

You are asked to bring those you invite to ‘Back to Church Sunday’ to all these events as a simple, relaxed and informal way of promoting our church and sharing the importance of your Christian faith with others.

We especially warmly invite you, your family and your friends to the shared parish lunch in celebration of Harvest Thanksgiving on the 25th September.  Harvest Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to give thanks for successful harvests, all the food grown on the land.

We also use this thanksgiving to celebrate and give thanks for all the wonderful things God has gifted to us, especially our families and friends; giving us the chance to share these things with each other and the many people who have nothing. Please remember to bring your harvest gifts of [non perishable] food and toiletries, which will be going to Redbridge Assessment Centre (the renamed Redbridge Night Shelter) who work caring for the homeless on our streets and Redbridge Foodbank, a charitable organisation which helps the poor and needy in Redbridge. [See separate loose leaflet for more details]. I hope that each one of you will prayerfully reflect on this request and engage fully with promoting your parish church.

I have already written to all those on our Electoral Roll asking them to please complete the form below detailing how many will be in your party and what food you will bring. We require hot and cold main courses and desserts.

We also require volunteers to help set up and clear away. All these events are open to the whole community, not just church members.

We look forward to celebrating all these events with you.

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
[PLEASE CUT HERE AND RETURN TO THE CHURCHWARDENS]

I will / will not be able to attend the shared parish lunch to celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving on 25th September

NAME …………………………………………………..................................................................................................................…..………………

CONTACT NO. ………………………………................................................................................................................………………..………….

E-mail………………………………………………...............................................................................................................…………..…………..

NUMBER IN YOUR PARTY ………………………….……..................................................................................................................……………

PLEASE STATE WHAT FOOD[s] YOU WILL BRING………………...................................................................................................................

…………………………..…………………………………………................................................................................................................………

……………………………………………………………………...............................................................................................................………..

WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP SET UP?   YES  NO 

WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP CLEAR AWAY?  YES  NO 

RSVP Sunday 11 September 2011

My prayers & blessings,
Fr Benjamin