WELCOME TO ST PAUL'S CHURCH KEWSTOKE

Where the spirit of the Lord is all around you

Our centuries-old parish church of St Paul, nestling under Monks’ Hill and its landmark steps at Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare, is and always has been at the heart of this community.

Although the parish and this part of north Somerset is rich in history, with 13th-Century Woodspring Priory viewed from the approaches to St Paul’s, the church today is very much alive, providing a centre of worship for all and hub for the spreading of the Christian faith.

St Paul’s is part of the Benefice by the Sea, linked with Wick St Lawrence, and led by our vicar, the Rev Gail Thomas. It is within Locking Deanery, part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and the parish stretches over Worlebury Hill to the edge of Weston town, to the east embracing part of Worle and to Sand Bay and the Severn Sea, running out to the west.

Special atmosphere

Our church family is drawn from across this area and from further afield – worshippers who are inspired by the special atmosphere of the church and its surroundings, by the friendliness of the people they meet and pray with, and the wide range of our services here.

Our Sunday services are core to church life and marriages, baptisms, and funerals take place during the year. House groups meet for further Christian study as well and there are coffee mornings to enjoy. Whether a long-time resident of the area, a newcomer, or perhaps just a visitor to this beautiful part of the West Country, do come and join us.

How to find us: satnav - 25 Kewstoke Road, Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare, BS22 9XL

Importance of safeguarding

Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is taken very seriously across the Church of England.

A copy of St Paul’s safeguarding policy can be found at Safeguarding Parish of Kewstoke.doc

The safeguarding officer for St Paul’s Church is Alison Withers.

She can be contacted by telephone, 07706063272.

At one session, the theme focused on the story of how Jesus healed the excluded leper and then, as Jesus showed, people should still be welcomed in the community. With Paul on the piano, action songs followed and crafts helped to explore the theme further.

The afternoon concluded with parents and children merrily tucking in to hot dogs and cupcakes.

Our schools visiting us for story of Christmas

Messy Church is thriving

Messy Church - where youngsters get together to have fun learning more about stories from the bible - is a big success being enjoyed by all those taking part at 4pm on the third Saturday each month.

Our pictures glimpse the enjoyment at the church hall.

It’s Tuesday - coffee and so much more

The church hall is almost full for coffee morning.

Tuesdays from 10am in the church hall have now become a regular coffee date for so many parishioners and their friends.

Over many years, church members have hosted the friendly, social occasion attracting not only those who attend St Paul’s but passers-by, holiday-makers and sometimes those waiting at the nearby bus stop for a trip to town.

Many activities

But the rapid rise in energy costs, putting a strain on so many household budgets, led to the broadening of the coffee morning into a warm community lounge with a programme of activities and refreshments lasting well into the afternoon.

Many arrive just for a chat, to exchange news, or  perhaps to meet new friends and neighbours. But a monthly programme now offers even more interest.

From 2 – 2.30pm on the first Tuesday of the month there’s a Living with Loss and Bereavement group. On the second Tuesday you can Explore Christian Faith and Life; on the third take part in gentle Exercise and Conversations about Health and Well-Being; and the fourth Tuesday brings Messy Vintage Church, Christ-centred fellowship for the older generation.

Everyone is welcome to attend and join in whatever interests them. Come along, don’t miss the friendly atmosphere.

Ringing out for support

The bell ringers of St Paul’s are seeking new members to join their team in the tower. As well as sounding the bells for Sunday services, the campanologists are engaged for wedding services and other occasions.

Inexperienced? Enthusiastic beginners will be given training. Please contact Alan on 07881 948110 for details.

Don’t forget items for our Food bank

Don't forget that we are continuing to collect food for the local Food bank. There is a box provided in church for this purpose. The items that they are particularly seeking at the moment are:

packet noodles, tinned spaghetti/ravioli, tinned meat, honey/jam, long life milk, custard/rice pudding, tined tomatoes, instant coffee, shower gel/shampoo/deodorant, washing powder/tabs, washing up liquid, nappies size 5 and more.

The Messy Vintage Church session, which is held for seniors on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Community Lounge, has featured an enjoyable handicraft activity.

Our pictures above show, from left, Jo, Rose and Jennifer at various stages of making a garden scarecrow.

Repair Cafe

On the first Sunday of each month 2- 3.30 there is a repair cafe in the church hall. There are people who can mend all sorts of things! Please do call in and support this local initiative as we try to recycle. Or just pop in for a coffee and a chat.

Festive gifts galore

Our picture, above, shows just one of the splendid 15 gift stalls that greeted the many visitors to our annual Crafts for Christmas sale at Kewstoke Village Hall.

More pictures and details of the highly successful event, which offered something for everyone, appear on our What’s On page.

The Advent quiet day was a really special time of reflection and preparation for the season and a huge thank you goes to Margaret for such a thought provoking day.  

If you are going to come along to the Advent courses on Thursdays, 2pm and 7pm, please do let me know so that we can plan what to do.

This week is a busy week with the schools coming into church for Christmas in a Box - an interactive retelling of the Christmas story, and the cubs and scouts coming into Wick St Lawrence on Wednesday evening.

Can you help?  

A PLEA FOR HELP - I need some help with refreshments at the Repair Cafe on Sunday, 2-3.30pm, and to provide refreshments for the schools on Wednesday and Friday morning at around 10.45.  If you are able to help, please do let me know.

Every blessing

Gail

Readings for Sunday

Isaiah 64.1-9

1 Corinthians 1.3-9

Mark 13.24-37.

Prayer for the week

Almighty God,

give us grace to cast away the works of darkness

and to put on the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life,

in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;

that on the last day,

when he shall come again in his glorious majesty

to judge the living and the dead,

we may rise to the life immortal;

through him who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever

Amen.