Benefice
Newsletter
23 July 2020
Roughly one week is left until the deadline of our film quiz. Sadly, there haven't been many entries submitted so far. Hoping they will start coming in soon, we are repeating the notice once more, further down this page.
Agnes
Are you excited about what the future holds in store? I do hope so.
I realise that, as we come out of lockdown and begin to pick up our lives that have been put on hold for the past four months, much anxiety remains. This is not necessarily a bad thing as we need to continue being very careful, maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and washing our hands. But, with what we have learned from this experience, we have the opportunity to start again, do things differently and to do them better. The gospel reading for Sunday is about ‘the kingdom of heaven’ growing like a tiny mustard seed and becoming a large shrub; about yeast causing flour to leaven; and about it being of great worth like hidden treasure and the most prized pearl. Every time we say the Lord’s Prayer we pray for God’s kingdom to come. When Revd Paula returns from holiday she will be sharing with us her vision for growth and kingdom-building in our Benefice. I’m feeling both optimistic and excited. I do hope and pray that you feel this way too.
Thank you for your continuous support of the Foodbank. Now that we have access to our church buildings again, all donations can be left in the dedicated bins there, as previously.
After two years, we have a hedgehog back in our garden and I’d like to encourage it to stay. Is there anyone out there handy with hammer and nails, who could make a rough wooden hedgehogbox, to give our visitor a safeplace to hibernate?A donation to All Saints in return.
Caroline
Have you spent the lockdown watching films at home? Or are you a movie buff in general? Here is a challenge to test your knowledge of the silver screen: we have put together a film quiz you can download from our website.
In our current situation we don't have the funds to offer a prize, but we hope you will give our quiz a try only for the fun of it. Please submit your entries by 31 July. The winner will be announced in the newsletter and in the magazine.
Another week, another scam, this one against church personnel.
Peterborough Diocese has warned us that fraudsters approached a PCC secretary and a treasurer to extort money from them by quite convincingly faking an email request from a Diocesan rector. Another scam targeted a priest by phone, asking for payment for made-up purposes related to the respective church. In all three cases the fraudster's attempt was unsuccesful.
If your name has ever appeared in a church magazine or any old paper copy of the Directory, if you have ever commented on our social media, then some basic details of yours are already out there, and scammers may try their luck with you. If they do, your best course of action is to not engage. Then, for the sake of others, please report the incident.
Those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, among them: Peter Boulden.
The housebound: Ruth S, Doreen A, Margaret O, Diana B.
The Church of North India (United), The Most Revd Dr Prem Chand Singh, Moderator of CNI and Bishop of Jabalpur; The Porvoo Churches – Lincoln, Harnosand, Lappo.
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.
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.
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