Church Business

Please pray for Causeway Prospects as they seek to increase their gift income so that more work can be done nationally and locally to bring Christian teaching and fellowship to adults with a learning disability. This week we are asked to pray for money to cover exhibitions and awareness raising. £2,500 is required to develop and produce a multi media Awareness Raising and Information pack as well as finances to exhibit at Spring Harvest and Christian Resources Exhibitions among others. Please see the notice about Mike Wyles sponsored Bible Read

Crèche Rota 11th May Henry Winston & Elaine Barrett

Notice Givers Rota. If you want a notice announced on Sunday 11th May see Andrea Smith, 18th May see Shely Ganguly. Alternatively please put it in the ‘C’ pigeon hole clearly marked ”Notice”.

Baptism ** We believe Jesus loves it when we respond to his

command to be baptised. For more information please contact the church office or one of the pastors.

** When being baptised it’s great when people tell their

stories. But if “making a speech” scares you, we can always find another way for you to talk about your commitment to the Lord, so don’t be put off.

** Next Baptismal service June 8th

Permission to pack the kitchen sink for the Weekend Away!!!

We are hoping to offer a drumming workshop using plastic containers of all shapes and sizes. If you have washing baskets, buckets, tubs (the bigger the better) that you are happy to have drummed, please bring them with you - wooden beaters would be good too (spoons?) If space is at a premium, please leave your items with us (labelled) and we will transport them there. Thanks. Jane Farnworth 929 9914.

Art Exhibition You are invited to an Art display featuring art by the children of East Reading to be held in the CommuniCare building on Friday 16th May from 1.00pm - 4.00pm as part of the East Reading Festival. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to CommuniCare (Contact details from church office)

2008 financial update

Weekend away

Estimated cost of the weekend away £40,000
Number of attendees 370
This broadly equates to around £110 per attendee.

Income to date (including gift aid) £32,000

In previous years the income has matched the costs, please pray about this situation.
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2008 Finance Update
January to March 2008

Actual income £108,466
Budget income £114,102

Shortfall £5,636

Average monthly income so far in 2008 is £36,200.  in order to meet budget we need an average of £39,000 per month for the remainder of 2008.

Please pray about this.

If you do not currently give by standing order please consider setting one up as this helps us to plan the finances.  If you are a UK tax payer please complete a gift aid form - this enables the church to recover an extra £28 for every £100 donation. 
If you have any questions about this or any aspect of the church's finances please do speak with Stuart Weekes (treasurer) or Stewart Johnston (operations manager).

The Great Bible Read. Causeway Prospects and Greyfriars Church invite you to the Great Bible Read from May 28th to June 1st in Greyfriars Church. A team of people from Causeway groups will be reading through the whole of the Bible using the Easy to Read version. Please sponsor Mike Wyles - a member of Sunday in the Warehouse - he is hoping to raise just £1 for each verse he reads but he needs more sponsors. Do look for him at the Warehouse lunch this Sunday May 11th - he needs our support. Money raised will go to provide God’s word in accessible ways to people with a learning disability

Weekend Away - it’s not too late to give We hear some people are saying, they missed both gift days for the Weekend Away, but is it too late to make a donation? The answer is NO, it’s not too late! People have already been amazingly generous, but the costs aren’t all covered yet, and you can still hand in any gifts (marked ‘Weekend’) to the church office any time you like!

Interested in helping children read and serving a local primary school? Want some help and training? CLASS (RCN initiative to link churches and schools) is holding a free training session for volunteers from churches who want to help kids read. Saturday 7th June, 2-5pm at Reading Community Church, The Meadway Tilehurst. Contact Andrea Smith for more information and booking: (Contact details from church office)

Prayer 4 Schools is on Monday 12th May 7.30 - 9 pm in the Communicare building - all welcome.

'A place in the sun'

An exciting 3 1/2 day holiday-style event for those aged 55 and over. A time to enjoy activities, entertainment and spiritual renewal with old and new friends. Refreshments and lunch provided. This is an opportunity to bring your friends. Book soon as places are limited!

Dates: Wednesday 13th to Friday 15 August 2008, plus Sunday 17th (morning and lunch)

Times: 9.30am to 3.30pm (Wed, Thus, Fri) Sunday 10.30am to 2.30pm.

Place: The Warehouse, 1a Cumberland Road.

£20 per person.

For more information and/or booking form, please contact Mavis Gleave or Ruth Dass Booking forms are also available in church foyer.

Journey to Justice For those who would like to attend the Journey to Justice (Drop the Debt Campaign) event in Birmingham next Sunday, 18th May, we have spare seats in our car. Contact David Farnworth (Phone number from Church office). For more information about the event (tickets need booking) see www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk

STILL TIME TO JOIN THE PRAY & FAST - SIGN UP TODAY

Next diary will be for 18th May 2008. Items for inclusion must be sent to Margaret Wall by Wednesday 14th May y

Understanding Acts Peter Lowman’s been using David Gooding’s commentary, True to the Faith while preparing to preach Acts and wants to say he’s found it particularly illuminating.

Plant Swap Advance Notice

Have you got too many plants? Perennials taking over the garden and need dividing? Houseplants need splitting and repotting? Too many seedlings? Well here’s the solution to all your plant problems! Come to the plant swap!

 What is it? You bring spare plants / seedlings and swap for someone else’s plants. If you don’t have any spare, come along anyway!

 How much? It’s free but if you’d like to make a donation, that’s great. You can also bring other things to buy and sell like jams / cakes etc.

 What’s it for? Any money raised will be sent to support 2 Christian projects in Brazil – an orphanage and a street project

 Where and when? At 38A Eastern Avenue on Saturday 31^st May between 10.30 and 13.00

For more information, call Ruth Thatcher (Phone number from church office)

Youth Events & Youth and Children’s Work related items

JAC Detached Youth Work News The JAC Newtown Team has been going out for almost 3 months and is starting to engage with young people in the area. We still need volunteers to help with our detached sessions on Friday night from 6.00-8.00pm. If you would like to learn more contact Chris Elsdon or Ollie March (email address from church office). For more information about JAC visit their website www.jacoutreach.org - The mission field starts in Newtown

Sunday Porch Welcome am: Tim and Miyuki Doel

18th May pm: Bob Sewell Alger

Prayer Team am: Andy Westwood, Rita Langridge, Daniel Adikpe, Anne Brinicombe

pm: Ali Crooks, Tim Crooks, Nusrat Sultan

Crèche Rota am: Sue Fung & James or Becky Morgan