Benefice
Newsletter
7 January 2021
Dark days. Very dark days. For some of us the darkest we have known.
Watching the graph rise. Mourning the loss of loved ones. Missing our families. Looking at the closed doors of our churches. Again. Wondering if the vaccine can reach us before the virus.
Some of you have known equally dark days. You may remember, as a child, the bombs which hit Wellingborough on Carnival Day in 1942. If your memories stretch that far back I’m guessing they’re clearer than why you went into the kitchen a few minutes ago. But to return to our dark days, you may have heard the old king speaking to the nation.
On Twitter a few days ago someone quoted that speech:
I said to the man who stood at the gate
of the year, 'You’ve got a nerve hanging round this gate
dishing out advice after what you did last year.' And
he replied ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand
into the hand of God. After all, what other choice have
you got?
Three of the gospels include a little story about the disciples in lockdown. Terrified, not of a virus, but of the Jewish authorities. Who, having killed Jesus, would surely be coming after his followers. And then Jesus appears to them.
You know what He says to his frightened disciples, don’t you?
Peace.
Despite being in lockdown, Jesus comes to them.
Despite being in lockdown, with our churches closed, God comes to us.
And you know what he says to us don’t you?
Peace.
Hmm. How?
Through prayer. Through the scriptures.
Here’s a little exercise. In your mind’s eye walk around your church. Slowly. Imagine what the walls have seen and heard. And then turn to your Prayer Book or Bible and read Psalm 48. A psalm written for just such a journey of the mind. Which ends like this:
For this God is our God for ever and
ever;
He will be our guide even to the end.
He will be our guide even to the end.
With love and prayers
Last week it was decided that we would not hold public worship in our churches whilst in Tier 4. This decision has the support of our Archdeacon and Bishop. Now we are in full lockdown, with the ongoing risk posed by the new variant of Covid not abating, the need for vigilance is even greater. This does not mean that worship will not be happening.
We will be recording a weekly online Holy Communion service which will be posted on our YouTube channel on Sunday mornings.
Morning Prayer on Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with Evening Prayer on Wednesdays and Compline on Sundays are accessible via Zoom. Please contact Revd Christine or Agnes for the link, you can find our contact details at the bottom.
We will continue to send a newsletter during lockdown, with the folio of the recorded Sunday service attached to it.
We ask for your continuing prayers for those affected by Covid, and also request that you keep in touch via the telephone with as many of our church community as you can during the coming weeks.
In the lead up to Christmas we made available a prayer booklet called The Light Shines in the Darkness, and during the first lockdown I made available a Church of England booklet entitled Prayers for use during the coronavirus outbreak.
The latter is downloadable from the above link.
If you would like paper copies of these booklets, please contact me and I will post them to you. We do not have to face the next few difficult months alone - Jesus is waiting for us to come to him in prayer.
Revd Christine
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous hand.
Isaiah 41.10
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us
from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
do not be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous hand.
Isaiah 41.10
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us
from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, among them Christian S, Sue P, Roger P, Richard H, Tim C, Kay G, Pam B, Philip B.
The housebound: Ruth S, Margaret O, Diana B.
The Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia; The Porvoo Churches: Oulu, Soer-Halogaland (Bodoe), Coventry.
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 Christine whom to pray for and the reason why.
Those whose anniversaries fall on this week: Walter Armstrong, Emma Petrikat, Gordon Flex, Helen Rowlatt, Sarah Emma Barron, Mary Barbara Wren, Alan Mitchell, Gladys Kathleen Charlton, Joe Webster, Dennis Byles, Ada Alice Knight, William Karl Spademan, Septimus Orton, Maisie Blenkham, Diana Smith, Evelyn Tear, Marion Morgan, Gordon Kingham, Lilian Greig, Christine Mc Andrew, Michael Buck, Ruth McGraw, Brian McGraw, Winifred Ward, Millicent Campbell, Herbert Satterthwaite, Sybil Swindall, Robin Dunhill, Alan Sanders, Arthur Hurl, Hughie Clegg.
Those who passed away recently, among them Terrence Smith and Yvonne Lanting. We pray for those who mourn.