2021 February 14 - Pew News
ServicesSunday 14 February 2021 - Sunday Next before Lent (Valentine’s Day)09.30am worship virtually in our monthly ‘Worship for Everyone’ There is no evening service. Monday to Friday 8.30am Morning Prayer (or Communion on Wednesday) 17th February 2021, 6pm Sung Communion for the beginning of Lent PrayersA Special Prayer for the Sunday next before Lent (for you to pray at home)Almighty Father, IntercessionsTo be included in our prayers in services, please contact the Rector or Wardens. Our prayers are:
Call to Prayer: Following the unwelcome passing of the figure of 100,000 deaths in this country attributable to the coronavirus, we join with the Archbishops’ encouragement to offer prayer at 6pm each evening in February. The tolling of the bell at the Parish Church for two minutes from 5.58pm, will precede this prayer for any within its hearing. The following prayers may be a resource, together with the lighting of a candle in the darkness. Invitation to a Holy Lent.. so begins the Liturgy for Ash Wednesday, and so follows the encouragement to all Christians to make something special of the coming season. In our services on Ash Wednesday we shall have the opportunity to express that intention as we begin those ‘forty days and forty nights’ somewhat loosely based upon Jesus’s time in the wilderness, but also on other biblical events of that timescale. I am persuaded that those other events are every bit as significant to our theological understanding of Lent, especially the time that Moses spent on Mount Sinai to prepare a people for the deeper knowledge of God’s glory. Whatever its background, Lent makes existential sense as a time of preparation; of gathering; and of self-limiting; in order that we might know better ourselves and our place in the world. The events in the parish will be advertised consistently through the coming weeks, and you are welcome to join with each at any time. You will gain most benefit, however, if you can try to commit with some consistency. There is variety on offer. We have also listed a few resources outside of the parish which you may choose to access. It is a moot point whether Lent is best seen as a time for putting tired things down, or for picking new things up; I suggest that you read your own heart as to what will be most productive - perhaps a mixture of the two. NoticesLent in the ParishDo be a part of the following. Let us know of your plans so that we can provide for the number involved. Group ActivitiesA. Thursdays, 10am by Zoom: STARTING THIS WEEK! The Rector will lead an 8-week engagement with the recent publication ‘Walk Humbly’, written by Samuel Wells of St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square. Dates: 18, 25 Feb; 4, 11, 18, 25 March; 1 April (Maundy Thurs); and 8 April 2021 (Easter Week). The book is billed as ‘Encouragements for Living, Working and Being’, and considers with us our place in the world. Barbara Brown Taylor writes in the credits: ‘whether you are new to Sam Wells or have trusted him for a long time, this small book will give you reason to think differently about your place in the universe. His counsel to walk humbly includes the neighbours next door as well as the galaxies overhead, giving Christians every reason to live large by remembering our true size’. Each session will last between 60 and 75 minutes, with between 10-15 minutes given to the reading of the respective chapter, perhaps with gentle interventions by Andrew, and then the chance to think and share our responses and ‘wonderings’ in online discussion. It is intellectually demanding; some solid thinking for the season. Nobody should fear, however, being put uncomfortably on the spot; and it can be of encouragement to everyone. You do not need a copy of the book, though it is readily available through online sellers. The course focusses on our life together as a Diocese in difficult times and runs to 5 sessions. Dates: 23 Feb; 2, 9, 16, 23 March 2021. Each session lasts no longer than 90 minutes and has chances for interaction and sharing. If you are interested in the Diocesan materials but are unable to participate by Zoom, or to do so at this time of the week, let us know as soon as possible .. and we will try to let you have some of the accompanying materials to use at home in your own time. C. Mondays, 8pm by Zoom: Lent Course from VCS (Visual Commentary on Scripture) D. Wednesdays, 7pm by Zoom: Talking Heads. Dates: 3, 10, 17 March 2021. It is not necessary that you should be able to attend the entire sequence of meetings for you to sign-up to a particular Course. Courses A, C and D in particular allow partial attendance. Acts of worship within the parishOn Ash Wednesday itself, you are invited to spoken Holy Communion at 0830 and/or a Parish Communion with music and address at 1800 hours; both to be held ‘virtually’. Details of joining addresses are printed above. At each of these services there will be the chance to mark (‘sign’) oneself with ashes to recognise this solemn day. You may like to look out for the opportunity to create or save some ashes for this purpose. Only a small amount is needed and they are helpfully crushed and then mixed with a tiny quantity of olive oil. As an alternative, you might prefer to put aside a small quantity of garden earth, which can serve a similar purpose. Other shared acts of worship through Zoom include Morning Prayer at 08.30am, Mondays to Fridays - why not give this popular broadcast service a chance during this special season; and evening worship during Holy Week, 29 March onwards. Register your interest with the Rector or Marjorie Kipling, and we will gladly add you to our daily distribution list. On Saturday 27 February, the Rector will lead an online Quiet Day for Lent, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. There will be a few fixed times of engagement through the medium of Zoom, during a day in which participants are then encouraged to use the remaining hours as they choose, profitably and prayerfully. External opportunities for Lenten devotions
Parish church closuresReminder of Present Closure of churches from 14 January 2021 the Parish Church is closed presently, both to daytime visitors and for gathered services. This situation remains under review, and we will be looking to ease our lockdown when this appears appropriate. If there are causes or people that you wish to bring to the attention of the Church and its praying community, please contact Rector or Churchwardens.
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