8th March 2026
Welcome to St Barnabas, especially if you are here for the first time! Please introduce yourself to our host team so we can welcome you personally. We especially welcome Anthony Knight who will be playing violin during our 9am service.
This Sunday is our annual Gift Day, an opportunity to thank God for everything he gives us and to invest in his kingdom work through generous giving. It is particularly appropriate that Gift Day falls during Lent, when we traditionally give things up in order to make space for God. But Lent is also a time to give away what we have received. After all, we are not called to accumulate God’s blessings, but to distribute them! As we continue our Lent series “Open Hands, Open Heart”, let’s ask God to speak to our hearts and open our hands so we can respond to him with faith-filled generosity.
TODAY'S SERVICES
Open Hands, Open Heart
Lent 3 - Treasure and Trust
Luke 12:13-34
9am Holy Communion
Lead: Roger Hall
Preach: Andy Buckler
10.30am Morning Worship
Lead: Amedee Ruey
Preach: Andy Buckler
5pm French Connect
Lead: Gilbert Chellemobrom
Preach: Andy Buckler
7pm Create
More than Words: Led by the Holy Spirit
Lead: Kidia Luvai
Preach: Amedee Ruey
FARSI TRANSLATION ON SUNDAYS
Each Sunday we aim to offer live translation of the 10.30 am service into Farsi.
To access this, please follow this link at the time of the service:
عزيزانى كه در كليسا حضور ندارند مى توانند از لينك زوم استفاده كنند و به زوم وصل شوند و ترجمه مراسم را گوش كنند با
سپاس كليساى سنت بارناباس
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85271717355?pwd=Z2svWG9pYWRlSmdjMjJXV0NIejhrQT09
Meeting ID: 852 7171 7355
Passcode: 270176
THIS WEEK
Each morning at 8am – Morning Prayer on Zoom (link on Prayer Page)
Mon 7.30pm - ‘Jazzified' concert
Tuesday 7am – Early Morning Prayer
Tuesday 10am - Barnies Soft Play
Sunday 15th March
9am Holy Communion
10:30am Morning Worship
5pm French Connect
7pm Create
NOTICES
GIFT DAY - Sunday 8th March
As a church we are committed to being generous! This fundamental kingdom quality is so spiritually liberating... and yet it requires each of us to be honest with God and ourselves. We so easily place our trust in our money and material possessions, allowing them to give us the security that we can only really know in Christ. We forget that everything we have belongs to God and that we are called to be good stewards of what he gives us. This is why it is so important that we regularly review our relationship with money and actively choose to make generous giving a pattern in our lives as a constant sign that everything we have is available to him.
This Sunday we have an opportunity to do this, as we hold our annual Gift Day. Please give generously! For more details, and to give online, please go to: stbk.org.uk/giftday2026 or use the QR code provided.
Wildlife Patterns: Live Life with God - SIMPLICITY
This Sunday, we are continuing with Wildlife Patterns: Live Life with God with a continued Lent focus on generosity. This week the focus is simplicity and generosity with a focus on simplicity as 'living a life of joyful unconcern from wanting more and more.' Our Bible verse is Luke 12:24: 'Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t save food in houses or barns. But God takes care of them. And you are worth much more than birds.'
With Spring in the air this week, we will be putting this verse into practice by having a little spring clean of the Wildlife cupboards and thinking about what we can share and pass on to others. If you have any toys, books or clothes that the children may want to bring in to add to our collection to share with local charities, they are very welcome to bring these along on Sunday (but no obligation to!). There will also be games (involving wrapping paper and ribbons!), activities and crafts (with a bird theme!), and time for prayer and singing. We look forward to welcoming you to Wildlife on Sunday at our 10:30am service!
TESTIMONIES
As a follow on from our series ‘From God with Love’ we want to be more intentional in sharing testimonies of what God is or has been doing in our lives, what he is saying to us, how he has opened up doors of opportunity and shown us his love… If you have a story to share, please send it to us using this new email address: testimonies@stbk.org.uk. Thank you!
LENT
Each year Lent gives us a special opportunity to make space for God through fasting and prayer. There and many ways to do this, but the important thing is to find space to be with God and then to generously give out to others what you have received. Here are some ideas that might help.
LECTIO 365
A pattern of daily prayer and Bible reading proposed by 24-7 Prayer. Over Lent we are invited to reflect on the theme “Wisdom in the Desert” being inspired by the walk of faith of the desert fathers and mothers from the early centuries. A wonderfully inspiring approach to the Scriptures and to prayer.
lectio365.com/desertresources
40 ACTS: DO LENT GENEROUSLY
During Lent this year year we are encouraging members of the church to take up the 40-day generosity challenge! Each day we will be receiving a practical challenge that will encourage us to be generous. The aim is to help us to build habits, deepen our faith and reflect the heart of Jesus through everyday acts. To find out more and sign up, go to https://www.stewardship.org.uk/40acts
30 DAYS OF PRAYER
Each year, Muslims celebrate Ramadan, a holy month of fasting and prayer. This year Ramadan runs from Tuesday 17th February until Wednesday 18th March, followed by the major festival of Eid al-Fitr (‘breaking the fast’) on 19-20th March. As such it falls entirely within the Christian period of Lent. Why not commit this Lent to praying for the Islamic world, and specifically for Muslims around you? You may want to pray for Muslims you know that they may have a revelation of Jesus, or for opportunities to meet more Muslims and be able to have spiritual conversations with them. You can find a useful guide for prayer at https://www.pray30days.org/
ELECTORAL ROLL
Each year we revise our list of members. If you have found your place in St Barnabas and are not yet on the electoral roll, please consider joining! You can do so by following this link:
https://stbk.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1143777
Youth Ministry Update – Starting 8th March
From Sunday 8th March, we’ll begin a six-week series during the 10:30am youth sessions. Created by Thirtyone:eight and Youthscape, this resource explores six parables of Jesus and helps young people understand that following Him means living with courage, care, and justice.
Our aim is to equip young people to recognise when something isn’t right, know that their voice matters, and have the confidence to speak up. Speaking up isn’t betrayal — it’s bravery (Proverbs 31:8–9; 2 Timothy 1:7). Safeguarding isn’t just something we do — it’s something we live out together. Excited for our journey together.
OUR VISION
At St Barnabas, our vision is
to be a kingdom community
welcoming all in Jesus’ name,
growing together as his disciples
and stepping out in God’s mission to all nations.
The different parts of this vision are presented on the posters at the back of church. Why not take time to look at them and prayerfully reflect how you can play your part in the life of our church? Do let us know what you think!
At St Barnabas, we are a vibrant and diverse community, passionate about
WELCOMING all in Jesus’ name, GROWING TOGETHER as his disciples,
and STEPPING OUT in God’s mission to all nations.