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Please come and help if you can, as we carry out a spring clean of Mulbarton Church from 10.00am to noon on Saturday 21st March.  Refreshments provided!

Here's the list of species observed during the Churches Count on Nature in Mulbarton Churchyard 7-15th June 2025

Download Word document of species list here

An epic gathering of the global Church.

https://www.gather25.com/

Join the global day.  Live link and refreshments will be provided at Harvest House, for anybody to drop in any time during the day, and to stay as long as they want.

We need two people to be there to welcome, and serve refreshments to any visitors.  There are no other duties.  The day itself will be guided from the big screen.

Please sign up using the link below if you can spare some time to act as host.  Otherwise please simply turn up on the day, and spread the word!

Book Your Slot here

Gather25 is an unprecedented 25-hour global broadcast event telling the inspiring stories of the global Church, by the global Church. But it won’t be a gathering of the global Church without you.

Jesus followers in churches, campuses, arenas, and living rooms–from every continent and denomination–will join together across every time zone to watch the Gather25 broadcast that is free to everyone, everywhere.

For 25 hours, Gather25 is inviting believers across the world to pray, repent, worship, and discover how the love of Jesus is transforming the world through everyday people.

This is our moment in history to come together, be inspired by the stories of how God is moving across the earth, and be excited to share Jesus everywhere.

Gather25 has a short video explaining the concept here: https://assets.gather25.com/library/videos/OurStoryShort_English.mp4

Or, for a longer look at what it's all about, their story here in under 8 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbR4C79clq8

Derrick explores the lectionary passages of Joshua 24 verses 14-18 and John 6 verses 56-69 as a response to the question "Are you confused?"

A full service order with song words is available by clicking here.

To join remotely, simply access the Zoom meeting in the usual way, and you will find links to the YouTube live stream and the service order from there.

Zoom meeting click here.

Live stream link is here: https://youtu.be/2QxUca3Yap4

Theme: The God of second chances

 Christmas 2 and Epiphany

   Advent Joy

Due to slight technical hitch the start of the service is missing. There are two videos. Please watch the “Recapturing a Magnificat vision of Joy” by Nick Morgan first. The second video is the rest of the service led by Derrick.

Service continues ...

 led by Derrick Hill :  "The festival of Christ the King"

 led by Sam Theobald : "Being expectant people"

- led by Derrick Hill

 - Led by Derrick Hall

- Talk by Derek: Labouring for Jesus in ‘our’ Samaria

 - - Note:final song "Hear the Call of the Kingdom" removed from this recording due to artist's performance copyright, Please find a version to listen to elsewhere on Youtube.

Morning worship with talk on 'Aidan' by Derek.

_

Sunday morning worship led by Bev, with Talk "Living Sacrifice" by Sam Theobald

On Sunday 18th March 2018, Flordon Breakfast Club returned for another successful, very sociable morning.

Thirty seven 'Flordonites' joined us to enjoy a full English breakfast and a Sunday morning natter.

Thank you to all who all came along! We hope to see you again!

Helen, Sarah, Emma, and Cynthia

See some more photos here.

PS Next fry up coming in June 2019! 

Folk enjoyed a great supper and hearty sing-along with Rev Andrew North at the annual Harvest Supper.

See some more photos here.

The Flordon Film Club finished the season with “THE POST”, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. It was a cracking good movie with members leaving on a high – Steven Spielberg’s direction takes some beating doesn’t it? If you haven’t seen this film I highly recommend that you do so.

The new season starts on Wednesday 17 October, followed by the Christmas meeting on Wednesday 19 December. Members are currently making their choices of films and the club newsletter will be circulated shortly detailing them. If you are not a member but would like to be added to the mailing list with a view to coming along you would be most welcome; just send me your full name and email address.

The Film Club meets in the Community Hall at the church on the third Wednesday of the month 5 times per year. Annual membership is £5 per person and admission to each screening costs £5 per seat. We sell good wine cheaply plus chocolate etc. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a bit of social intercourse before the film!

STOP PRESS!

I have just been informed by the distributor that Breathe is not released until February 26 which is after our film night! So what I have agreed to do is to swap it round with My cousin Rachael i.e. We will see that film next week and Breathe in April.

This is a bit tedious and I am sorry about it; but I hope that those who wish to see both films won’t mind them being swapped round. Naturally if anyone  who has booked to see Breathe wishes to cancel I would quite understand.

The release information on My cousin Rachel follows, and I think it promises to be a good film – quite a number of members voted for it.

Tickets are now on sale.  Just £5. PLEASE BOOK NOW by emailing me - and pay on the door.

It is that time of the year when membership subscriptions are due, unchanged at £5 per person for the whole year. For prospective members the advantages of membership include: getting advance notice of the list of films available, the opportunity to vote for which films we show, and members names go in the draw on film night for free admission at a future film night. Importantly the club needs this financial support in order to cover any shortfall in box takings, and to contribute to the cost of equipment, and subsidised events such as the Christmas film night. I hope that you will wish to join or renew your membership in which case please pay on the door when you next attend.

Please may I make a plea for someone to join me in running the club. The work none of which is onerous involves:

• Maintaining the membership list
• Sending out the newsletter and other email communications
• Collating numbers for each film night
• Accounts
• Contact with distributers and Creative arts East:
  • ordering and returning films, making returns and royalty payments
• Managing Food and Beverage supplies
• Setting up and dismantling the equipment on the night
• Taking money on the door
• Selling refreshments

Thank you.

I look forward to seeing you on the 21st February and in the meantime I wish you a very happy and healthy New Year.

There are usually 35-40 each 4^th Tuesday of every month in the Social Club 2:30 – 4:30p.m. On 16 December our Christmas party in the Village Hall brought around 70 together, including friends and families, and a good time was had by all!

If you know anyone who is on their own and may enjoy an afternoon out please take an invite from the back of church, Caroline’s office, or see Sue Mellows. The current invites cover January through to April. Transport is available if needed.

We would always welcome volunteers to drive or to come to chat to visitors during the afternoon.  You do not need to commit to being available every month.  If you are interested in helping in any way just speak to Sue or simply pop in to see us one Tuesday afternoon.

Thanks for the faithful band of bakers who provide us with goodies. Added with those that Angie from the Social club provides, we have a wonderful spread each time!

February’s Mardlers will be on Tuesday 27^th.  And looking forward to March, we will be having a small celebration for Easter, also on Tuesday 27^th, but 2:30 – 5:00 p.m., when the Social Club will also be running some games of bingo.    

Another stained glass workshop has been held at Flordon. This time decorations with the theme of ‘Spring’ were made which could be put in the garden, attached to a cane, or hung in the house. Everyone who took part really enjoyed their day, which included an excellent lunch.

Thanks to all who made it such a success!

Some More Photos Here

Flordon book exchange is now up and running and there are lots of fresh books to choose from. I would like to thank everyone who uses the exchange and hope you continue to enjoy the variety of material available. Al and I will get round to giving the phone box a fresh lick of pillar box red paint soon. Many thanks, Pearl.

Mobile: 07785414339

Flordon’s annual get together – the village barbecue/ Hog Roast – was enjoyed in perfect weather by villagers aged 0 to 90. Excellent food was followed by face painting and games for the children, while the rest of us just enjoyed each other’s company.

Our grateful thanks to Tony and Amanda for their hard work and organisation and to everyone else who provided food or helped in any way to make this a wonderful event.

You can see some photos by clicking here.

Flordon Flower Festival attracted a steady stream of visitors during the August Bank Holiday weekend. It featured in Radio Norfolk’s Treasure Quest on Sunday morning – the picture shows Sophie finding the clue.

Delicious teas and Ploughman’s lunches were enjoyed in Helen and Jimmy’s garden next door.

Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make it such a successful event.

The magnificent sum of £1385 was raised for church funds.

See some photos of the beauty and goings on here.

Update of 14^th bath of Residential Mission Training Course

National Mission Commission of Nepal

Three months Missionary Training was organized from 2^nd March to 24^th May 2016. There were twelve students, including 2 ladies across the country. Most of the students came from the least evangelized region of Nepal.

During the training, including NMCN staffs and more than 20 pastors, teachers, taught different subjects such as: Walk through the Bible, Bible study method, Biblical foundation of mission, History of Mission, Christian ethics, Preaching, Christian family, Book of Acts, Church management, Church planting, Fivefold ministry, Role of Holy spirit in Mission, Spiritual warfare, Muslim religion, Tent Making, Spiritual Leadership, Holistic Mission, Income generating, Evangelism and Discipleship.

NMCN promotes Cross-cultural and holistic mission. Students were taught how one must get involved in the community transformation to look for an avenue to witness the Christ. It has been strongly emphasized that the church must take the whole Gospel to the whole society. Apart from that, students were taught an Income Generating Training in order for them to do mission without any support from outside.

A Graduation Ceremony

A Graduation Ceremony was held On May 24, 2016 in Jyoti Great Commission Church, Sainbhu Lalitpur. At the ceremony, we had invited our board members, distinguished pastors and leaders as well as pastors and relatives of graduating student to bless the students. Over 50 pastors and leaders were present at the ceremony where 2 students shared their experiences and blessings of their time at the Mission Training Course. The ceremony was presided by Prem Kumar Rai, while Rev. Satay Tamang a Chairman of NMCN gave the message of exhortation to the graduating students.

CEO Ram Prasad Shrestha, during his welcome speech thanked to pastors, leaders and supporters for encouraging the NMCN through valuable presence. During his talk, he mentioned that more than 250 missionaries have been taught so far and 99% of them have gone to the unreached areas to plant a church. More than 300 churches have been planted by the missionaries sent by NMCN through the partnership with the churches and denominations. Of them, some have been sent to India and Bhutan as missionaries. He also specifically thanked to the TEAM Mission for their long standing partnership through providing grants to make this training successfully. We would not have been able to come thus far with manifold blessings if TEAM would have not prayed and supported.

Finally, former chairman Rev Indra Thapa shared a word of encouragements to the graduating students and led the dedication prayer along with other pastors and leaders present at the ceremony. The Ceremony was concluded with the benediction prayer pronounced by the Rev. Indra Thapa.

List of Students

Following the success of the flower arrangement day at Christmas, another one was held on Saturday 23rd April which was enjoyed by those who attended. As can be seen from the photos, two styles of basket arrangements were made. At the request of those attending, another day will be arranged in the summer if there is sufficient interest.

Here are the results of our efforts:

At Flordon on December 12th, seven people enjoyed making Christmas table decorations and door wreaths at a workshop led by Pam, Janice and Cynthia. Other flower arranging workshops may be held during the year if enough people are interested.

A roof piercing slogan was chanted again and again by the pastors and leaders gathered in Damak when a Mission Conference for Pastors and leaders was held in Eastern Nepal. The slogan was the declaration of their renewed commitment of being a missionary people as a Nepali Christian. A three days Mission Conference was held in Hope Church in Damak in partnership with the Regional wing of the National Churches Fellowship of Nepal. Despite the strike and road blockade, more than 180 enthusiaistic pastors and leaders attended representing different denominations and a group of eastern Nepal Pastors from the plains and mountain were gathered where they joyfully shared their fellowship, learning together and while eating and chatting over the break.

It was surprising to see how the team of kitchen served food by cooking with firewood in open air despite the shortage of cooking gas due to unofficial blockade imposed by the Indian Government.

We did experience breakthrough in the lives of the participants when Rev. Tom Keppeler of Elmbrook church ministered with the word focusing on what is missing and why the church must get involved in mission. The pastors and leaders have been cast the vision in fulfilling the Great Commission. Similarly Dr. Matt Gibson from the Emlbrook church ministered to participants about the importance of prayer lives and spirituality for missional leaders. We would like to thank the Elmbrook Church and Life North Church, USA for their financial partnership to make this event happen successfully.

During our review meeting after the conference, the organizing team of the leaders expressed saying that the conference has hugely impacted on their lives and they have been enormously blessed. They also requested that such kind of mission Conference must be held for youth as well.

"We would like to thank the Lord for enabling National Mission Commission of Nepal to continuously create the movements of World Mission by equipping and teaching to the churches. We thank once again to Elmbrook Church and New Life Centre in USA for their partnership. In Him."  - Ram Prasad Shrestha

Over 120 days of ruthless and harsh unofficial blockade imposed by the Indian Government supporting one of the ethnic groups called Madhesi has over shadowed the cry and pains of the victims of the earthquake. Moreover, the pain and suffering have even increased due to the blockade by the severe shortage of humanitarian and daily essential items in Nepal. Due to such inhuman acts, the country of Nepal is almost in the verge of becoming failure status.

When the most devastating earthquake hit Nepal, Kanchhi Maya's house was not spared, her house was also destroyed but thank God no one got killed. She and her father in-law lived the tent for several days in Thakle Kavre, which is one of most destroyed district. This was quite challenging time for her because there was no one to help her.

Kanchhi Maya had lost her husband 14 years back due to the HIV. Kanchhi Maya who got HIV transmitted by her husband. Now she lives with HIV under the humiliation and desolation in the society, her days are numbered due to the lack of medication because she does not have proper job for the medication. The money that she earns by doing tedious job is not sufficient to cover the medication. HIV related social organization does not have enough resource to cover her medication however; the organization had helped her previously. She has got two children who are looked after by Koinonia Grace Home and they are studying well in Kathmandu.

Kanchhi Maya and her father in-law were homeless and did not have shelter to put their heads or to go anywhere as HIV affected person. The freezing winter is already at her door post which put their lives in risk. The National Mission Commission of Nepal has helped her to build the house where she and her Father in-law reside now warmly and happily. She has expressed her deep and sincere thanks to NMCN for meeting her need by building the house for them. I would like to take this opportunity express our heartfelt thanks to generous donor like you who has prayed and responded the needs to reconstruct the broken world and soul. WE are ever thankful to God for enabling us to touch the lives through in the name of Christ and share the good news in order to change the life to toward joy and happiness. Once again thank you for your generosity and fervent prayer support.

In Him, Ram Prasad Shrestha and NMCN Family. 

Update from National Mission Commission of Nepal

October, 2015

Relief Work:

There are still many people who are suffering without proper shelter due to deadliest earthquake hit on 25 April and 12 May this year. Somehow, people have survived the rainy season despite suffering with flood and landslides. Whatever shelter families are living in now, they are not enough to fight the winter. The tough winter is approaching from the month of November. The winter is quite severe which may claim many lives of old and children because of poor shelter and lack of warm clothing.

The government of Nepal does seem helpful to continue the relief work. Now they have imposed new rules and regulations for the relief work. No agencies are allowed to go to the communities to do the relief work unless the budget, activities, proposals are approved by the government and local officials. This is an unnecessary hassle that the government has imposed upon the organization that have involved in relief work.

Our relief work has been stopped now because of the new policy which has been imposed upon us. However, we have been distributing the foods that we had purchased earlier and corrugated sheets in small quantity. We are working on submitting the fresh proposal to the government and we hope by December or January, we can start building the shelter and houses.

Nepal in Crisis:

It seems like a curse over the people of Nepal. After the catastrophic earthquake, pouring rain and landslides, the people of Nepal are now suffering unjustly due to unexpected blockade from India, after the promulgation of the new constitution. The political party based in southern Nepal called Madhesi has been constantly protesting and calling the general strikes and blockage which has stopped all the vehicles from coming to Nepal. India seems indirectly imposed sanction supporting this party. Since Nepal is depended upon the Indian supplies of petrol, gas, foods, medicines, raw materials for factories and all the business, now things are coming no longer, which has made life very hard. There are already foods daily household things are shortage in the market. People are finding hard to travel from once place to another. It's likely to prolong the blockade which will put life in serious danger. People are dying without medicines and oxygen in the hospital.

Churches are also being threatened by the Hindu extremist. Recently, 3 churches were bombed in the eastern part of Nepal. Nepal used to be a Hindu country but now the new constitution has declared as a secular country which as upset the Hindu political parties. They have ordered that all the missionaries must leave the country or face the consequences. There are riots and demonstrating taking place in a different part of the country, the church could be attacked any time. There are no proper justice and strong security in Nepal.

Due to lack of petrol and cooking gas, we have cancelled 2 upcoming events which were Missionary Retreat and Income Generating training. There are other Christian organizations who also have cancelled their meeting/training as well.

Please pray that country would be politically stable so that people can live and travel without any fear.

Please pray that the government would be helpful and caring toward the relief efforts.

Please pray for the protection of the churches and church leaders.

Ram Prasad Shrestha

Update from National Mission Commission of Nepal

‐Ram Prasad Shrestha, September‐2015

Shelters for the Homeless

The Gorkha District is still a most shattered district due to the earthquake, but still the Dalit people of this the district is overlooked in the distribution of relief materials. The National Mission Commission of Nepal has been able to do an assessment based on needs through the missionaries and networks working in the devastating areas.

Our missionaries with Resham Pariyar, vice chairman of NMCN, along with local leaders distributed corrugated sheets in Amppipal Gorkha. The distributed corrugated sheets have been used to build seltars to stay safely under in the rain and in winter.

We have distributed Zinc sheets to about 60, most of them have built shelters and wish to say they are thankful to partners like you who have prayed and sent generous funds to build the shelters for the victims of the earthquake.

Missionary Purna Builds the Shelters:

Another missionary through whom we distributed the zinc sheets has also been able to build a few houses in Ramechhap Districts. Besides distributing the food and house materials, we could also distribute zinc sheets and tents for them. Due to our involvement the church has been recognized by the society and by the government. The society who used to be hostile to the Christians has become a friend and a good neighbor. Now Purna has been able to establish a good relationship with the government officials. He has been appointed as relief co‐ordinator in this region because he has shown his integrity and accountability in the society where there are other community leaders who have been found corrupt in terms of delivering relief materials to everyone regardless of caste and creed.

Orphans without Food and Shelter:

Krishna and his two brothers aged between 10‐14 are orphans without food and shelter. However, they have a Grandmother who is 70 years old, but they do not know her whereabouts. Sometimes she shows up but then disappears. She is surviving with the food that is given by the villagers. Krishna and his brothers Shantosh and Pradeep live in their relative’s house working for them. Unfortunately, they dropped out of school after their parents’ deaths.

Krishna’s father went to India to earn a living for his family. Due to his sickness he had to

Return home after a few years. He was not able to bring much money, only his things, but what he also brought was a killer and deadly sickness called HIV. Without knowing, the HIV was transferred to his wife who died of HIV. When Krishna’s mother died of HIV, people were not aware that her death was due to HIV, so she was cremated with dignity. His father kept drinking wine and smoking while taking care of the children. However, after two years his father died of HIV. When he died, nobody would touch his body in the village because most of people knew about his sickness. After his death, nobody came to his house to get the body to be cremated, so the body was left at home decaying. After a few days, the worms started eating his Body. When the smell was unbearable, the villagers came to the house and cremated the body beside his house itself. Now the boys are left without parents’ care and concern.

Now Krishna says, if my house is rebuilt, I and my brothers and grandma can live together and make our living by working in the village or elsewhere. He further says my grandma has the skill of stitching cloth; she can make her living and we can be together as a family. By realizing such a pathetic and heartbreaking circumstance, the National Mission Commission of Nepal has helped to build a house (picture above). Now boys along with their grandma live together in their home comfortably and their lives with dignity and pride.

We are ever grateful for your continued prayer and sacrificial giving for the sake of the Love of Christ and his people.

In Him,

Ram Prasad Shrestha

An objective which aims to provide essentials and small recreational items to some countries in Eastern Europe where poverty and need have reached critical levels.

e.g. - Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania.

Felicity McIlwrath is launching her annual campaign within our Benefice to contribute shoe boxes filled by volunteers with items suggested on the Appeal form. Shoe Boxes can be either ‘Family’ or ‘Elderly Person’ specific – see example shown.

Felicity has a supply of forms for those interested.

Once completed, please bring boxes to Felicity’s home address -The Gables, The Common, Mulbarton, Norwich, NR14 8JQ

by

28th October 2015

They will then be taken to a Norwich collecting centre, eventually being added to the overall UK shipment, made from Link to Hope’s warehouse in Worthing, Sussex.

Link to Hope’s website is at www.linktohope.co.uk

Email address - shoebox@linktohope.co.uk

Forms and further details available for download by clicking here.

For further information and help locally please contact Felicity on 01508 571254.

Greetings!

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to you for praying with us in the time of suffering and calamity in Nepal. I would also like to thank you also for responding  prayers  by giving sacrificially to help the needy people of Nepal.

I am enclosing the relief update herewith this email. The rainy season has started, now our next phase will be to build the temporary houses so that they will be safe in rainy season. We are going to give zinc sheet which they will put roof on the house. They will use their local materials to build the temporary house. Once rainy season is over then they will build the permanent house by using the zinc sheets as roof.

We have received official approval to distribute the zinc sheet and build the houses from two different districts, which are Dhading and Ramechhap. We are still waiting to receive from Gorkha as well. The official permission would grant us work with local government and the use of foreign funds.

Our latest report on the relief distribution effort in Darbanga of Gorkha is available here.