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

For the 10.00am Parish Eucharist  for today click here

Rector: Revd Keith Robus RN
Telephone No: 01752 509724

Email: keith.robus@btinternet.com
www.Stokedamerel.church
www.facebook.com/StokeDamerelChurch

Stoke Damerel Church in winter
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © High View - geograph.org.uk/p/1111563

Sunday 23rd January            3rd Sunday of Epiphany

THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Sunday 23rd January                   Epiphany 3
Nehemiah 8:1-3. 5-6. 8-10
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
Psalm 19:1-6 IF YOU ARE ILL OR NEED TO GO INTO HOSPITAL
Please ring for support:-
Revd Keith: 509724
Wendy: 218432
Liz: 509852

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:-
James,  Revd Peter Warland, Peter, Michael.
The long term sick and infirm:-
Terry and Pat, Janet, George and Audrey, Philip.
The Ministry Team:-
Father Keith, Ruth and Wendy.

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.

RECTOR’S RAMBLINGS
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.

In order to watch the livestreamed services please
‘click’ on this link to
make your way to YouTube site:
https://www.youtube.com/c/StokeDamerelChurch

Sunday 23 January        Epiphany 3
0800 Holy Eucharist
1000 Sung Holy Eucharist

Wednesday 26 January
10.00 Holy Eucharist

Thursday 27 January
1900 Eucharist followed by PCC meeting

Sunday 30 January        Presentation of Christ in the Temple
0800 Holy Eucharist
1000 Sung Holy Eucharist

Sung hymns and organ music
The Church of England, working with St Martin
in-the-Fields and the Royal School of Church
Music, is delighted to be providing a resource of
rights-free music for use on streamed services.

Covid
With the new plan B restrictions, please would
everyone wear a mask and ensure good social
distancing. Please wear your mask when singing.
For the time being it has been suggested we
withdraw the use of the common chalice. We will
also temporarily suspend the service of hot drinks
after the service. So sad – as we have been doing
so well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN JANUARY
Liz Neil.

CHURCHWARDEN'S WARBLINGS
Planting Day: Paradise Road Field
Wednesday 19th January
It has long been an aim of local people, enjoying
green spaces and views of the Sound, to do their
utmost to retain Paradise Road Field as an amenity
for a range of leisure and educational purposes.
Over the last few years, a group called Friends of
Paradise Road Field has been formed with this
intention in mind. Even before this group existed,
an application was lodged with PCC to designate
the field as a Village Green. This application, as
yet, is still awaiting approval. The “Friends” met
regularly on zoom throughout the pandemic, ably
chaired by Col. Ian Moore, and an ambitious
planting plan was formulated by Catherine Partner
together with Sue Willis, and much discussed,
tweaked and approved by the group with
additional advice from many professional quarters!
With all the correct permissions granted, things
moved forward a pace and the date was set for the
planting to begin.
Many organisations and local schools were
canvassed to join in and provide a combined work
force. Plymouth City Council Parks Department
spearheaded the action, as a pilot project for their
afforestation programme, led by Hayley Rogers
and team: present and correct at 7.30 am. A tractor
and digger were delivered to ease the workload,
with truckloads of 50 trees, of which 30 deciduous
and 20 fruiting. Native varieties: oak, silver birth,
poplar, willow, holly and rowan. The fruiting trees:
apple (various), cherry, Victoria plum, damson,
pear, fig, English walnut. 600 hedging saplings of
different types were donated by the Woodland
Trust. Since the work was not completed in one
day, PCC returned on Thursday morning.
Additional help came from staff and year 6 pupils
from St Joseph’s RC Primary. The team from
Stoke Damerel was distraught at being struck
down by covid, thus unable to attend, but will be
warmly welcomed when fit to view the area.
Plymouth Environmental Action volunteers were
present, with Maria and colleague. Later in the
day, a group from DHS for Boys attended.
Members of Devonport Park: both Friends and
gardeners, worked alongside various members of
our congregation and a group from the Hub in
Stoke Village. It was an amazing example of how
we can all make a difference and work together for
the common good! Ian wishes to voice a HUGE
vote of thanks and appreciation to ALL those who
gave their time, expertise and good will to make
this day a stupendous success. This is a combined
effort for the good of the neighbourhood and its
future.
Marilyn Goldsbrough














ADVANCE NOTIFICATION: LENT COURSE
2022 Surprised by Generosity Lent Course
will "open our eyes"
Our 2022 Lent course has been specially created
for churches in the Diocese of Exeter and is on the
theme of God's generosity. The 7-week course
includes small group resources, videos and
suggested church service plans. It will be available
for download by January 25 via the Lent Course
2022 webpage.
The Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev'd Nick
McKinnel, has had a preview of the material and
said: "Praise and thanksgiving lie at the heart of
our faith, the inevitable response to discovering
the grace, mercy and truth of God. ‘Surprised by
Generosity’, our 2022 Lent course, opens our eyes
afresh both to all that God generously gives us in
Jesus and to how we might live generously in
return. Practical, Biblical, challenging and
professionally produced, it makes a great resource
for churches, study groups and individuals who
want to rediscover the God of surprises. “Thanks
be to God for his inexpressible gift!” exclaims the
apostle Paul as he overflows with gratitude for the
generosity of God he has discovered in Jesus
Christ."
We are invited to take part in Surprised by
Generosity, the Lent course set up by the diocese
for us in Devon. It looks at God’s generosity to us
and explores ways we can respond. We plan to
meet on Tuesdays in Lent at 7.00pm beginning on
8th March at Marilyn’s house and thereafter at the
Rectory. For more information ask Fr Keith,
Marilyn or myself.
Wendy

GARDEN DELIGHTS IN WINTER
Although daylight hours in January are still
relatively limited, there is always something of
interest happening outside, regardless of the
weather. This is especially so should you have
time to sit and look out of the window from a
warm room. Temperatures outside have dropped,
although they are still generally above the average
for this time of year.
We have seen a couple of light morning frosts on
the grass recently, but no damage to any of the
more tender plants yet. Thankfully, we have also
experienced much more sunshine and this, along
with the milder weather, seems to be bringing on
some plants ahead of their normal timing.

The Magnolia tree has many leaf buds which
appear to be about to burst open. At the top of the
Oak tree there also seems to be a reddish haze,
which suggests that new leaf buds are forming
there as well. Most encouraging though are the
number of Camelia bushes which are coming into
bloom and cheering up the Winter garden.

Down at ground level. We still have some
colourful flowers to enjoy, as well as a few others
coming into bloom early. The potted Delphinium
still has just one late small flower atop the tall stalk
which had many more flowers back in the summer.
Still showing a few very late flowers from 2021
are red Pelargoniums, orange Nasturtiums and
Marigolds, yellow Rudbeckias and even one
colourful purple Snapdragon.



Most appreciated though are the Rose bushes
which have all produced a few Winter flowers.
We are really looking forward to seeing the two
yellow buds near to the Lounge window burst
forth with bright ‘Summery’ cheer.

Tony Barnard

A prayer for the world
God of love and hope,
you made the world and care for all creation,
but the world feels strange right now.
The news is full of stories about Coronavirus.
Some people are worried that they might get ill.
Others are anxious for their family and friends.
Be with them and help them to find peace.
We pray for the doctors and nurses and scientists,
and all who are working to discover the right
medicines to help those who are ill.
Thank you that even in these anxious times,
you are with us.
Help us to put our trust in you and keep us safe.
Amen.