Benefice
Newsletter
16 July 2020
For a couple of weeks Canon Margaret is taking over the producing of our online services from Rev Paula. We are in good hands. These next two services will be the last in the current format, make sure you don't miss them. As Rev Paula explained last week in her pastoral message, our YouTube channel will remain very much alive even after the church buildings open for services in August, with a new video published every Sunday, but you will see some major changes.
Agnes
This month I have been ordained for 25 years. No one is more surprised about that than me. I didn’t explore a vocation to the priesthood until the vote to ordain women as priests went through on November 11th 1992. On November 12th I applied! And the rest, as they say, is history. (And so far I haven’t been struck off.)
I did know myself well enough however to know that I would be an angry woman if I could only ever be a deacon. So it’s no surprise that I have had to struggle to become the first thing we are called to be when we are ordained: a servant. Boss? Easy. Servant? Hmm.
It has been a delight in lockdown to discover how many people have naturally and easily become the servants of others. Often, of people they did not know beforehand. And sometimes at personal cost. Many of you have been delighted to help your neighbours, to provide help for people you didn’t know.
We have heard so many stories of support and love and care. But, unless we are heading for a second spike, some of these support networks will not be needed for much longer. Except……our mission is to share the love of God. Maybe we can continue what we have been doing? Please God we can.
This is our God, the Servant King:
He calls us now to follow him;
To give our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.
He calls us now to follow him;
To give our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.
As the lockdown is being lifted, the Church of England has reviewed the necessity of its Daily Hope phone line. The service was launched in April, and is available 27/7 as a simple way for people to bring worship and prayer into their own homes. By dialing 0800 804 8044 free of charge, callers can browse and listen to an ever growing selection of hymns, prayers and reflections.
Daily Hope has by now received around 173 000 calls from over 37 000 people, and has proven to be useful and comforting. So much so that the service will not only continue to work, but new content will be added to it, including mental health reflections voiced by Pam Rhodes, holiday at home material in August, and prayers from the Mothers Union.
The new Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell made his first public address, and you can watch it online. He invited others to join him in delivering his speech, among them the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Archbishop Stephen recorded the video for the members of the General Synod who couldn't meet in person in July, but the message is published online for all to hear: the pandemic and the lockdown have taken their toll, and there are major challenges ahead of the Church, but hardship can also bring clarity and a renewed focus on God, which are both much needed.
Those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, among them: Paul Skinner, Richard Hole, Peter Boulden.
The housebound: Ruth S, Doreen A, Margaret O, Diana B.
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines, The Most Revd Joel Atiwag Pachao, Prime Bishop of the Philippines; The Porvoo Churches – Skara, West Yorkshire and the Dales.
If you would like to add a name to our prayer list, please first obtain the consent of the person you wish us to pray for. Then tell Rev Paula or Agnes at the Benefice Office whom to pray for and the reason why. A name remains on the list for three weeks.
We remember those who have died recently, among them Pat Ward. We pray for all who mourn this week.
Pat was a long standing member of All Saints' congregation and the Mothers' Union, and our former PCC Secretary. She passed away on Monday, the details of her funeral are not yet known.
Morning and evening prayer on Zoom – call Rev Christine (01933 226730).
Our Prayer and Praise services online
Our film quiz
Ian (phone 01933 274222) can help collect your shopping and prescriptions,
and he and Bob A. (01933 383316) collect Foodbank donations.
Northamptonshire Coronavirus Support Line for getting food, prescriptions and other services – call 0300 126 1000 / option 5.
List of churches with online services
Free worship phone line – call 0800 804 8044
For good mental health
For worship at home
For households with children: Faith at Home
Further resources from Peterborough Diocese