Benefice
Newsletter
10 February 2021
Have you noticed that the nights are starting to draw out? At 5.30pm it is not quite dark, hurrah! Spring is one of my favourite seasons, that sense of nature waking up, the promise of light evenings and better weather. We need that promise of new life so much just now as we begin to see hope for an improvement in the COVID situation as more and more people are vaccinated. I was reminded by the opening words of our worship at the All Hallows Mother’s Union AGM this week, that God is with us, whatever we face:
O God, make
speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
With you, O God, is the well of life
and in your light shall we see light.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
With you, O God, is the well of life
and in your light shall we see light.
It is through this light of Christ we are inspired to persevere in this long journey through the pandemic and beyond. Perhaps you could use these words as an arrow prayer throughout the day, especially at difficult moments.
Lent is approaching fast with Ash Wednesday only a week away. God and Royal Mail willing, you should receive a prayer card for use on the day. The cards have a cross made with the ash of palm crosses which is very tactile – the prayers on the back are suggestions taken from the traditional Ash Wednesday liturgy; feel free to adapt or use your own.
Although we are still physically separated, we are trying to make sure that everyone has opportunities through Lent to join together virtually and/or spiritually (for those who do not Zoom or use the internet). On Wednesday 17th February there will be a Zoom service at 12noon and repeated at 7.30pm (see below for the link), one of these will be recorded and posted on our YouTube channel. Our Lent discussion / Bible study / fellowship begins via Zoom on Thursday 25th February – please contact Agnes to register. If you are not able to join the group, there is a book which accompanies the course called “From Now On” by Rachel Mann that you could use at home. There also is our Zoom worship on Sundays at 10am. The Ash Wednesday prayers cards will be followed up with resources to aid our journey through Holy Week – watch this space for details.
GDPR – I am using the permissions given by each of you under GDPR to send out resources by post. If you do not receive them it could be because you opted out of being contacted by post when you filled the form in. If you would like to amend this, particularly in view of the current circumstances, could you please let Agnes or myself know in writing.
Join us on Zoom on Sunday 14 February at 10:00.
Follow this link, or use meeting ID 859 7239 5120 and passcode 424880.
We are holding the draw live on Zoom. Meet us there on Saturday 13 February at 10:30.
Follow this link, or use meeting ID 819 4198 6497 and passcode 510896.
Don't forget to register with Agnes, if you would like to join our live stream on Ash Wednesday 17 February. We will have two services on Zoom: one at 12:00, another at 19:30.
Send your name and which service you will attend to Agnes at the Benefice Office. You will then receive a link the week beforehand. If you can’t access Zoom meetings, send an email or leave a phone message about it, and we will send you the text of our service to use at home.
Join Rev Paula Thursdays from 25 February to 25 March at 19:30 on Zoom. We will watch clips from the film The Greatest Showman (starring Hugh Jackman), think and pray, based on a Lent course book titled From Now On by Rachel Mann. See the magazine for more information. You don't have to have seen the film or read the book beforehand.
If you would like to take part, email Agnes at the Benefice Office.
If you have any items for our next magazine, please send them to John (johnvmagazine@virginmedia.com) by Sunday 14 February.
Those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, among them Sue P, Roger P, Richard H, Tim C, Kay G, Oliver D, Cedric G.
The housebound: Ruth S, Margaret O, Diana B.
The Church: the Anglican Church of Canada.
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: Kathleen Dyment, Agnes Smith, Joan Looker, Renee Kathleen Orton, Ellen Grace Waples, Joan Richards, Enid Phillips, Alfred Packwood, Ellen Elizabeth Cain, Patricia Ferguson, George Meekins, Joan May Smith, Joan Richards, Andrew Kerley.
Those who died recently, among them Joan Hole and Trudy Marie Page. We pray for those who mourn.