Information for the week beginning: 26 February 2012

First Sunday of Lent

The Collect Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bible Readings
11am Genesis 9.8-17; Psalm 25.1-9; 1 Peter 3.18-end; Mark 1.9-15 3.30pm Psalm 119.17-32; Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7; Romans 5.12-19

GIFT AID envelopes are available in the back of seats. If you are a UK tax payer, please put your collection in an envelope and complete the details on the front. This enables us to increase your donation by a further 25% at no cost to you. Thank you. Tel: 0121 262 1840 e-mail: enquiries@birminghamcathedral.com www.birminghamcathedral.com twitter.com/bhamcathedral iPhone app http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/birmingham-cathedral/id408269871?mt=8

Children's Church We welcome children to the Cathedral and offer a special time of teaching, praying and activity for them in Matthew, a room near to the vergers office (please ask a church member for directions). The session commences during the second (gradual) hymn and children are returned to their parents at the Peace. Children of school age can attend unaccompanied but we ask that a parent comes with a pre-school child at least for the first time. We also provide bags with books and colouring activities for children to use in their seats.

Cathedral Notices
LENT The Cathedrals Lent course is Confident Christians in a multi-faith city Thursday evenings from 1 March 2012, 7.30 - 9.00pm. Speakers include Canon Paula Gooder, the Bishop of Birmingham, the Dean of Birmingham and Dr Andrew Smith. The sessions will end at 9.00 and the evening will include a time of worship. See flyer for more details The Thursday Bible study is looking at John 3. 22 and into Chapter 4 this week. All are welcome to join us in Matthew at 2pm. We aim to finish about 3:15. Further information is available from Judy Hand this week. Lent lunch: Sunday 11th March, a simple soup & bread lunch served after the 11am service. Tickets 3 to be purchased in advance from Judith Whalley so we know numbers. Please bring your own mug. Lent Charity: at the Cathedral Community Committee meeting this week we agreed to support the Ladywood Food Bank. Please donate non-perishable foods on Sunday 11 March. Due to storage limitations please do not bring to the cathedral on other dates: Milk (UHT or powdered), Sugar (500g), Fruit juice (carton), soup, pasta sauces, rice/sponge pudding (tinned), tomatoes (tinned), cereal, teabags, instant coffee, instant mashed potato, rice/pasta, tinned meat/fish, jam, biscuits & snack bars. If you would like to donate money the easiest way is through http://www.ladywoodfoodbank.org.uk/donation.html Lent may have begun, but its not too late to get involved with 40 days, 40 reflections, 40 generous acts, stewardship's Lent challenge. 40 acts will inspire you, your friends and family to do Lent a little differently this year, with 40 simple but generous challenges to complete between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. You can also sign up to receive 40 daily inspirational reflections from some amazing contributors. www.40acts.org.uk. MEETINGS and EVENTS The Lunching Alone group meets on the last Sunday of each month to eat together after the 11am service. For more information please speak to Noreen Murray. The bell ringers will be attempting an extended peal for the Queen's Jubilee from 10.00am on Monday 4 June 2012 and will ring for approximately nine hours, hoping to finish by 7.00pm. The method chosen is called Avon. It was first rung here in 1980 and is a particularly challenging 12-bell method. Eucharistic Ministers Rotas are now ready. If you have not received one by email please collect a paper copy from the vergers basket. We are delighted to welcome two new members of the vergers department, Joe Roberts (part-time verger) and Peter Pritchard (honorary verger). Thank you to the Warwickshire Masonic Charitable Association for their kind donation of 400 to the Cathedral music department. CONFIRMATION The confirmation service is on Saturday 7th April at 7.30pm. If you have not been confirmed (or baptised) and would like to explore this, please speak to one of the clergy. Preparation is in small groups or as individuals at mutually convenient times.

Regular Notices
Listen to recent sermons Dr Andrew Smith Ash Wednesday 7.30pm http://bit.ly/yJ9Grf Canon Nigel Sunday 19 February 11am http://bit.ly/ycgAZv Tuesday Talks Revd Jonathan Dowman 21 February http://bit.ly/yJ9Grf

Wholeness and Healing Ministry Dates Coming Up Today (11am), Saturday 3 March (9am), Thursday 22 March (1.10pm) Other Organisations/Events Nightstop is a well respected charity which helps provide temporary accommodation for young people (17-25) in local homes. It works in partnership with the police to give a high level of protection to hosts and volunteers. If you have a spare room and no children at home you might like to consider volunteering: e-mail. nightstop@networkfour.org or phone 07793914440 for more details The Christian Muslim Forum is organising a 2 day residential called 'Come to the Edge: Christian and Muslim Women critically thinking together' on 19 & 20 March 2012, at King's Park, Action Centres UK Ltd, Kings Park Road, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 a women only event focussing on topics brought up by focus groups in the Near Neighbours area. To register & for further information please email info@christianmuslimforum.org or http://christianmuslimforum.org/come-to-the-edge Interfaith Poetry returns... Wednesday 29 February 2012 7pm at the meeting room (through the) Warehouse Caf, Allison Street, Digbeth B5 5TH Please bring a poem about a religious artefact. Refreshments will be available. Carrs Lane Church are running Fair Trade Fortnight from 27 February to 11 March. The Fair Trade shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 10.30-2.30pm, you are particularly invited to a Free Cup of Coffee day including a Traidcraft sale on Saturday 3 March, 10.30-2.30pm. For your prayers Those who are long-term ill or frail: Mary Farr, Geoffrey Willsher, Mary Partridge, Sidney Christian, Dorothy Norton, Jessie Rider, Muriel Stammers, Elizabeth Woodley, Joan Higginson, Roger James, John and Marie Caulton, Beryl Barrington, Marjorie Attridge, Bruce Yeoman Those ill at home or in hospital: Colin Ramsey in Bourneville Ward at old QE, Benjamin Perry (3 years old) Those who have died: Sylvain Inaloute, the brother of Simone Pamen. Marcel Tagel (uncle of Solange Doumege), John Hick (theologian), John Suddards (murdered Vicar) Anniversaries: Joseph James (Howes)

Please send new items for the notices to: notices@birminghamcathedral.com.

This week
Sunday First Sunday of Lent 26 9.00am Holy Communion 11.00am Choral Eucharist (Girls and Mens voices) Preacher: Canon Liturgist
Genesis 9.8-17; Psalm 25.1-9; 1 Peter 3.18-end; Mark 1.9-15

Choral Evensong (Boys and Mens voices) 3.30pm Preacher: Canon Missioner Monday Tuesday 27 8.00am Morning Prayer and Holy Communion 5.45pm Evening Prayer 28 8.00am Morning Prayer and Holy Communion 1.10pm Tuesday Talk

Psalm 119.17-32; Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7; Romans 5.12-19

5.45pm Shorter Choral Evensong (Girls and Mens voices) Wednesday 29 8.00am Morning Prayer and Holy Communion 1.10pm Holy Communion (BCP) 5.45pm Shorter Choral Evensong (Boys voices) Thursday 1 8.00am Morning Prayer and Holy Communion 2.00pm Bible Study Group 5.45pm Evening Prayer 7.30pm Lent Course Speaker: Canon Paula Gooder Friday 2 8.00am Morning Prayer and Holy Communion 1.10pm Music for Lunch (Tim Harper, organ) 5.45pm Choral Evensong (Boys and Mens voices) Saturday 3 9.00am Morning Prayer with Holy Communion 3.30pm Choral Evensong (Summerhill Choral Society, Kingswinford) Sunday Second Sunday of Lent 4 9.00am Holy Communion 11.00am Choral Eucharist (Boys and Mens voices) Preacher: Canon Missioner
Genesis 17.1-7, 15, 16; Psalm 22.23-end; Romans 4.13-end; Mark 8.31-end

Choral Evensong with laying up of the standard of the West Midlands Fellowship of Nuclear Test Veterans 3.30pm (Girls and Mens voices) Preacher: The Dean
Psalm 135; Genesis 12.1-9; Hebrews 11.1-3, 8-16