Benefice Newsletter
2 April 2020
All Saints & All Hallows
Wellingborough
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Dear
Parishioners All our Holy Week and Easter services and workshops are cancelled. In this newsletter you will find tips to still be able to worship, we particularly suggest keeping in mind Peterborough Cathedral's online Holy Week programme. We are also announcing a fun Easter project for children and those young at heart. Agnes
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Prayer for a pandemic May we who are
merely inconvenienced
remember those whose lives are at stake.May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place to go. May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all. May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home. As fear grips our country let us choose love. During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours. Amen. |
Simple ways to deal with
loneliness during isolation Pray. Light a candle, if safe, and pray for hope, faith and strength to keep loving and caring for each other during this time of struggle. Talk about how you feel. This may be difficult if you are self-isolating, but do use the telephone, internet, and social media. If you need to contact a counsellor this can be arranged by your GP, or via local agencies, or privately. The Samaritans are there 24 hours a day, every day, and it’s free to call them on 116 123. Focus on the things that you can change, not on the things you can’t. Look after yourself - physically, emotionally, spiritually. Plan in things that you enjoy at regular intervals during the day – a TV programme, a phone call, a book, a favourite dish, a game. Look after others. Even if only in small ways, but do what you can: a smile, a kind word, writing a letter or an email. These tips and other mental health resources have been published by the Church of England's media centre. A more comprehensive 13-day self-reflection program is also available by clicking here. |
Praise what we have Even though she has more than enough health problems, Pat W. treated me to the most up-lifting description of the view from her sitting room – the colours of the flowers, the fresh green of the opening leaves on the trees, the deep blue of the sky, the beauty of the sun-filled garden. She felt she had so much to be grateful for. Sing praise for God’s creation! Caroline
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Easter
craft and activities Pat T, Lynsey, Frances and Mel have put together an Easter craft and activity package for children. For each day of Holy Week, starting this Sunday and leading up to Easter, there is a new episode of Jesus' story for you to read together, accompanied by creative craft ideas and thematical colouring sheets. The files will soon be downloadable from our website, or drop an email to officeallsaints@btinternet.com and Agnes will send them to you. Now, the most important part: share the joy! We would love to see your creations, and show them to all our people. Send photos of what you have made to the above email address, and we will publish them in the next magazine (and on our website if possible). And do keep the originals if you can, we would like to put them on display in church once we are allowed back. If you don't have craft supplies at home, we are looking into whether it would be possible for Lynsey to put together a bag of resources and get it to you, taking proper hygienic precautions. Please email officeallsaints@btinternet.com with your name and number if you are interested in receiving such a bag. |
Riddles for a 10-year-old,
please Help! My 10-year-old granddaughter phones me up each day, and I’ve landed myself with giving her a riddle or test question, so that she can come back with the answer the following day. Can anyone help me with riddles, mathematical or general knowledge questions? Please send them to my e-mail address: caroline_skinner@btinternet.com. All help very gratefully accepted! Caroline
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The licensing of our new
priest Revd Paula York Under the current circumstances the induction service we planned for 19 April can't take place. Revd Paula will be licensed privately that day, via video conferencing, in the virtual presence of her, Bishop John, Archdeacon Richard, and the four churchwardens. We will hopefully be able to have a church service later, when the lockdown is lifted, to celebrate Revd Paula's new ministry. |
Online resources Our first newsletter covered the radio stations that broadcast Anglican services. There is also an array of digital material you can reach online: Time to pray - Common Worship Day and Night Prayer The above link takes you to the Soundcloud website, where you can listen to daily prayers or download the free app created by Church House Publishing. Prayer for the Day You can find daily prayers in audio and text format, on the Church of England's website as well. A selection of prayers and intercessions No audio or video, just plain and simple text and a downloadable pdf of a wide range of prayers for adults and children, befitting our current situation. Smart speaker apps Do you have smart speakers? Tell Alexa to 'open the Church of England', or your Google home device 'Hey Google, talk to the Church of England'. The Church of England on Youtube This link will take you to the Church of England's Youtube channel, for Sunday service broadcast and various other videos. Thought for the Day videos These were mentioned in last week's newsletter. Brief, uplifting videos from Peterborough Diocese. Peterborough Cathedral's services Peterborough Cathedral is closed, but its clergy have started streaming services regularly from their homes, which you can watch or listen to live, or you can come back later for the recordings. Scroll down for the schedule towards the bottom of this webpage. |
Contacts
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