March Outlook 2015

Page 1

The Sodbury Vale Benefice Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, Horton & Little Sodbury

O U T LO O K

magazine

www.svbcofe.org.uk

March 2015

1 Jane is enrolled as a Companion of the Society of St Francis by Brother Damian. See 1


Nominated Person:

Contacts

Mrs Hilary Holder 01454 327118 This is the person to contact if you wish to express concern about suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult

Rector The Revd. Canon Jane Kenchington, 01454 313159 [Day off Friday] email jane@svbcofe.org.uk

Churchwardens

Associate Priest The Revd. Yvonne Brae, 01454 850682, Mob. 07908 513098 [Day off Monday]

Chipping Sodbury

email yvonne@svbcofe.org.uk

Anne Mudge 07823 441920

Assistant Curate The Revd. Peter Fewings, 07795 206590, email peter@svbcofe.org.uk

Old Sodbury

Reader (Licensed Lay Minister)

John Myers 01454 312223 Karen Hunter 01454 319903

Mr Ian Yemm 07514 139825; 01454 318608 [Day off Saturday] email ian@svbcofe.org.uk If you would like to know more about the Christian faith or are thinking about baptism or confirmation please speak with the ministers

Little Sodbury Brenda Cordy 01454 316447

Director of Music VACANT

Horton

Church Office

Tina Hildick-Smith 01454 320380 Richard Needs 01454 329890

Open during school term time Monday - Friday mornings 9.00 - 12.00 Administrator: 01454 325160 Michelle Jenkins - Mon, Tue & Thu AM

This magazine is brought to you Free by the four churches of the Sodbury Vale Benefice. If you would like to make a small donation towards production costs that would be most welcome. Thank you.

email: office@svbcofe.org.uk Web Site: www.svbcofe.org.uk

April Deadline Can you have all copy to Michelle in the Church Office by March 12th at the latest please.

Advertising: Sylvia Franklin 07788 111726

Editor: Michael Stephenson 01454 314094 email outlook@svbcofe.org.uk

Front Cover - Tulip Photo by Michael Stephenson

2


mother. They were all very much appreciated. Thank you also to the many of you who attended the service of thanksgiving, so helping to make it a very special occasion. Finally, many thanks for all the help given in the church centre afterwards. Anne.

Baptisms: We welcomed into the Church: Elizabeth Violet Molyneaux Spence on 8 February at St John’s, Old Sodbury Sophia Rose Curtis-Whitfield on 8 February at St John’s, Old Sodbury

David Webster Dear Friends and Members of Sodbury Vale Benefice. Church members of the Benefice, and Chipping Sodbury and Old Sodbury in particular will, no doubt, have noticed that my attendance has been either nil or erratic. With old-age and physical limitations I feel unable to attend on a regular basis. This is a great hardship and a cause of bereavement to me as a life long follower of Jesus. I wish to say ‘Thank You’ to everyone who welcomed me into the parish 13 years ago, when I retired from Readership in Yate New Town and Bristol Diocese, and for the succession of folk who have succeeded them and tolerated my tendency to talk too much and accepted me in my slow dinking of coffee! We have been greatly blessed with our Church leaders, full time and part time and our faithful Churchwardens. May our Lord reward them appropriately. I have found a verse in Acts 2, verse 42, that is appropriate for all Christians, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” I commend it to you. I am still a member of the Benefice, so would appreciate a brief visit from time to time. Phone first 01454 327707 With love from your brother in Christ David

Funerals:We

extend our sympathy to the families and friends of:

Barbara Youell on 13 February at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury and Westerleigh Crematorium Eileen Margaret Spearpoint on 16 February at Westerleigh Crematorium Apologies to Diane and Mike Willmott for the incorrect spelling of their mother’s name in the last Market Cross. It should have read Kathlyn Ann (Betty) Willmott

Ever wondered how your church works? Come along to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and see how things are done. The dates of the APCMs for each church in the Benefice are: St John’s, Chipping Sodbury 11.00am 19 April in Church St John’s, Old Sodbury 7.00pm 23 April in Village Hall St Adeline’s, Little Sodbury 7.00pm 26 April in Church after our service St James’ Horton 7.00pm 21 April Village Hall

Norah Hodgkinson. I would like to thank all those who sent cards and messages after the death of my 3


Dear Friends The routine of the Church’s ancient calendar with its prescribed liturgies and readings may at times seem repetitive and limiting. But it is also a really good discipline. It prevents us from cherry picking what we like and leaving out the things we find challenging or dull. It is particularly important that preachers don’t self select the texts they want to preach on but have to be prepared to reflect on the themes and readings set. The month of March this year will include nearly all the Sundays in Lent right up to the beginning of Holy Week. It is a season we choose to travel together in this Benefice from Ash Wednesday through to Easter Day. The highlight of this journey is the Easter Triduum – comprised of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter night. Time stands still as one gathering meets over three days to follow Jesus through the garden of Gethsemane, along the way of the Cross and into the empty tomb. The washing of feet, the last supper, the stripping of the altars, the watching in the garden, the empty wooden cross, the crown of thorns, the kindling of a fire. We wait in darkness, as we have done through the six weeks of Lent, for the moment when death becomes life. A new life for us all, now and for eternity. It is tempting to just go with the flow during Lent. We might choose to give up some small treat, but spring weather is in the air, the days are lengthening and there is often a lot to do. The Church even gives us Mothering Sunday as a little light relief, which is perhaps no bad thing. The death of Jesus on the Cross, is often something we observe only from a safe distance. His rising, an unfathomable mystery we choose to represent in a chocolate egg. The Easter Triduum expresses all that is at the heart of the Christian faith. Our first Alleluia will be all the more joyful if we can make the time to travel this epic journey, this holy way, together. Praying for a good Lent,

Ian

4


Lent

F. WOODRUFF

When many of us think of Lent (if we indeed do), we often think of giving up a treat like chocolate or alcohol or cigarettes or some other thing we enjoy but don’t really think is good for us. It may feel like a harsh burden or even an impossible effort. It may come as a surprise that the actual word “lent” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “lencten” and refers to the lengthening of daylight during these weeks of the year. So Lent is meant to be a “springtime of the soul”, not a punishment. It’s a chance for some interior personal spring cleaning- a time to clear away the cobwebs and spruce our souls up for Easter. The Church recognises that Advent and Christmas call for serious periods of preparation. Advent focuses on attentiveness and anticipation. Lent is more penitential. We face the ways we have failed to live up to the example set by Jesus and what this says about our gratitude to him for giving his life to save us and bring us back into harmony with God. Three traditional spiritual disciplines are associated with Lent: ● Fasting for the good of our body; ● Almsgiving for the good of our neighbour; and ● Prayer for the good of our soul. I commend these to you, but I also suggest the more positive practice of “taking on” rather than “giving up” something for Lent, perhaps volunteer work or special spiritual/scriptural study or a retreat. However you observe it, I wish you a holy Lent and one that will deepen the joy of Easter for you. Revd Canon Robbin Clark, Dean of Women Clergy

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Greetings from Cumbria!

Principal Service readings March

It is now seven months since we left our Couzens Close home of 11 years and moved to K e n d a l . Although people warned us about wet weather, since we moved we’ve enjoyed more than our fair share of glorious sunshine, summer, autumn and winter. Today we enjoyed a magical walk in crisp, frosty surroundings, with patches of snow still on the lower fells, climbing 800 feet to a sunlit, partially frozen tarn with only the sheep for company, and returning alongside the River Kent as it hurried from the hills above towards its calmer stretches through Kendal. David’s permission to officiate in Carlisle Diocese has eventually filtered through, delayed by a lost file; his first scheduled service in a village church was cancelled at the last minute by a heavy snowfall but he led a Wednesday communion in our home church (St Thomas Kendal) recently and is preparing to take the Ash Wednesday service. It’s a rather larger church than we’ve generally been accustomed to but we are beginning to make some good friends, both at church and in the complex where we live. We did not realize just how keenly we would miss all our lovely friends in the Sodbury Vale Benefice. It has been good to hear from some of you and to welcome to our home those who have ventured to the northern regions. We hope more will be able to come in the months ahead. Our house gave us many more problems than we had expected; gas and water leaks added to the chaos of building alterations, and Christine found it particularly trying.

March 1st (Second Sunday of Lent) Genesis 17: 1 - 7, 15 - 16 Romans 4: 13 - end Mark 8: 31 - end Psalm 22: 23 - end March 8th (Third Sunday of Lent) Exodus 20: 1 - 17 1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 25 John 2: 13 - 22 Psalm 19: 7 - end March 15th (Mothering Sunday) 1 Samuel 1: 20 - end 2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 7 John 19: 25b - 27 Psalm 34: 11 - 20, March 22nd (Passion Sunday) Jeremiah 31: 31 -34 Hebrews 5: 5 - 10 John 12: 20 - 33 Psalm 51: 1 - 13 March 29th (Palm Sunday) Isaiah 50: 4 -9a Philippians 2: 5 - 11 Mark 14: 1 - 15: end Psalm 31: 9 - 16 But all is finished now and we are able to relax and enjoy living in these comfortable and beautiful surroundings. God has been so good to us. An added bonus has been Jon, Jo and their children relocating to Buxton, from where they continue a leadership role within Turning Point – they are visiting you very soon, we understand. We spent Christmas with them as well as other visits and it has been particularly good to enjoy seeing Zoe’s development: she’s now 15 months old. They are settling in and enjoying the change from Nairobi’s heat to Buxton’s snow (or so they say!) We send you our fond love and prayers for a very happy Easter. David & Christine 6


Embracing the New Some love it and some hate it. Others are indifferent to it. Many today make it an integral part of their daily lives. I am talking about the Internet. This is the first of a series of monthly articles that addresses how we use this not-so-new technology in the life and ministry of our churches. In the April issue I shall begin looking at the new svbcofe.org.uk web site. We shall look at various sections of the pages and give some help in how they can be used. Later we shall look at some of the other elements - like the Sodbury Vale Benefice Facebook page and our @SVBwatch Twitter account. We shall also look at ways of making the most of the SVBMail mailing list. We are in process of setting up an editorial sub-committee to oversee the content and style of the web sites of the SVB site and each of the four churches and explore how we can provide better integration between them and the social networking. We may need your help too - in writing content - and also in providing pictures we can use... Interested? Hopefully we can also run some basic orientation sessions on using Internet, computing and social-networking - even on taking good picture, or writing. This is for all those who want to get started but may be overcome by fear and are nervous about taking the plunge. In the meantime do feel free to ask questions, or to express an interest in the orientation sessions. Do contact Frank at <admin@svbcofe.org.uk> One last word: my grandmother was quite opposed to radio when it first came on the scene - until she got hooked on The Archers - and then became one of its biggest fans... Frank Gray

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Meditation

how to be--to be still, to be ourselves, to be where life is: Here and Now. . . . What is it that so many people find enchanting in animals? Their essence-their Being--is not covered up by the mind, as it is in most humans. And whenever you feel that essence in another, you also feel it in yourself." I think that is very true.

The human species is the first link in the Great Chain of Being that is able to know that it does know, which we might call full consciousness. We can stand back and reflect upon our experiences, which is what we might mean by awareness. We can be choice-fully and intentionally loving, and we can also stand back and see ourselves hate, fear, lie, and hurt others. In that sense, an awful lot of people are rather un-conscious because they do not see such things.

My black Lab, Venus, puts her head on the side of my bed many mornings and looks right at me until I make eye contact with her. She can maintain eye contact much longer than most humans can. I often wonder, "What is she looking at? What is she seeing that she likes so much?" or maybe even "What is she seeing that I cannot see?" I am convinced that many creatures--that we think just live at a rudimentary level of consciousness or mere "instinct"--might be seeing "the one thing necessary"! They don't get lost

The animals give God glory just through their simple existence. Ducks do the duck thing, squirrels do the squirrel thing without any resistance to themselves or envy of the other. Eckhart Tolle, in his book Guardians of Being, says, "We have forgotten what rocks, plants, and animals still know. We have forgotten 8


in our so called "thinking," which is largely labelling and judging everything up or down. Animals can seemingly connect out of pure naked being without any filters, except of course fear of rejection or harm. Is this innocence? Whatever it is, it is a gift! And a gift that you and I have to reclaim and relearn with great difficulty. Richard Rohr’s Meditation Adapted from Christ, Cosmology, and Consciousness Yvonne

Old Sodbury Annual Spring Clean and Churchyard ClearUp St. John's Church, Old Sodbury is having its annual spring-clean on the 26th, 27th and 28th March with a clear-up in the churchyard on Saturday 28th March. We would really appreciate your help, even if you can only spare an hour or so, there is no need to book a place, just turn up on any of these mornings from 10am. For the churchyard clear up please wear suitable footwear and bring gardening gloves and tools if you have them. These mornings provide an opportunity to get to know fellow villagers and church members in an informal & friendly environment and as an added incentive, there will be coffee and cake provided mid morning as a thank you for volunteering. There are 8 weddings booked at the church between April and October and we are looking to pay someone to clean the church before each wedding. There is a possibility that this maybe extended to cleaning on monthly basis by mutual agreement. If you are interested please contact the Church Wardens for further details - Karen Hunter 01454 319903 or John Myers 01454 312223 9


Holy Week & Easter Services across the Benefice Palm Sunday 29 March Chipping Sodbury: 9.15am Donkey procession from the Moda Hotel to St John’s Church, followed by Parish Communion with children’s activities. Horton:

11.15am Mattins (BCP)

Little Sodbury:

6pm Evensong (BCP)

Old Sodbury: 11.10am Donkey procession from the lych gate to St John’s Church followed by Family Service. A Journey through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day As we did last year, we invite you all to journey together around the Benefice for the services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. These three/four days are the most important days in the Church’s Year and they belong together. If you just go to church on Palm Sunday and then return on Easter Day and miss out what is going on in between those Sundays, you have lost the sense of travelling with Jesus through his Last Supper, trial, death and resurrection. So I strongly encourage you to seriously consider observing these three really important days by joining us on our journey. I have given a brief description below of what happens on these important days. Maundy Thursday On Maundy Thursday we remember the Last Supper and that Jesus gave himself in the Eucharist. We recall that Jesus chose his apostles to serve and lead the Church. Remembering that Jesus washed their feet at the Last Supper, the priest washes the feet of members of the congregation. The evening eucharist on Maundy Thursday is a beautiful and joyful celebration. During the singing of the Gloria, the church bells are rung and then remain silent until Easter Day. At the end of this service, the Holy Sacrament is placed on an altar of repose for the Watch. This reminds us of the time Jesus spent praying in the garden of Gethsemane. The other altars in the church are stripped bare. Our journey starts at St James’, Horton at 7.30pm on Maundy Thursday. Good Friday On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus. For the third year running, we’ll have a Walk of Witness. This year, we’re making it a longer walk in order to witness to a larger group of people. So we’ll be starting at 11am in Yate Shopping Centre and then walking to Chipping Sodbury. This is a silent walk, with a Bible reading about Jesus’s trial read at Yate and then a passage from scripture about Jesus’ death read at Chipping Sodbury. There will also be a 10


prayer and a hymn sung. In walking this route, we are re-enacting the walk Jesus made to Calvary. (The Via Dolorosa). We really hope that all of you will join us for all or part of that walk. The celebration of the Lord's passion and death takes place at 2pm in Chipping Sodbury Church on Good Friday afternoon. The service includes listening to scripture, prayers of penitence at the foot of the cross, praying for the world and receiving Holy Communion which has been reserved form the Maundy Thursday eucharist. Some people ask why we include the offering of the bread and wine on Good Friday. From a theological point of view, on Good Friday, Jesus in dying on the cross, gave himself for us and to us. So on Good Friday, we are invited to come to him, the source of our life and receive his life-giving body and blood. If you don’t wish to receive the bread and wine, you don’t have to! Just remain seated where you are. If you wish for a shorter service of reflection and music, we are offering another service at Old Sodbury Church at 12 noon. Easter Vigil On Holy Saturday the Church meditates on the suffering and death of Jesus. Decoration of the church is left for as long as possible. Holy Saturday is an empty day, symbolising the death of Jesus and the emptiness of life without Jesus. For Jews, the new day begins at sundown of the previous day. The Easter Vigil has four parts: The Service of Light; the Liturgy of the Word; the Liturgy of Baptism; and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the Early Church, the Easter Vigil lasted through the night until dawn on Easter Sunday, when the Alleluia was sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent, and the faithful—including the newly baptized—broke their 40-hour fast by receiving Communion. During the night-long Vigil, many readings from scripture were read – readings that trace the work of God in the life of humanity from the beginning of Biblical time. To make the Easter Vigil accessible, we are using a shortened and truncated version. On Holy Saturday evening, at 8pm at Little Sodbury Church, we will light the Paschal candle in celebration of Christ, the world’s true light, being raised to new life. This will then be followed by some scripture readings that trace God’s hand in bringing our salvation. So on Saturday night, we will have the Service of Light and the Liturgy of the Word. During the Service of Light, all the lights in the church are turned off and a fire is prepared outside the church. Then the fire is blessed and the Paschal Candle is lighted from the new fire. The candle is carried into the dark church. It is a sign of Christ, the Light of the World, who has overcome the darkness of sin and death. The lighted Paschal Candle provides the only illumination. Then, from the flame of the Paschal Candle, members of the congregation light the small candles that they are holding. The flame is passed from person to person until everyone is holding a lighted candle. 11


The light from the Paschal Candle and all the small candles provides the only illumination in the church during this portion of the liturgy. This section concludes with the singing of the Easter Proclamation, the Exsultet. During the Liturgy of the Word, the story of God's great love for us is proclaimed in readings from the Old and New Testaments. The readings recall the great events of salvation, beginning with creation itself. At the Dawn Service, (6am at Old Sodbury Church) the baptism vows will be taken another Paschal candle lit – because it will be held at a different church from the one used for the Easter Vigil service. So at the Dawn service, there will be the service of Light and the Liturgy of Baptism. In an ideal world, all baptisms and confirmations should take place at the Easter Vigil, following the pattern of the Early Church, after three years of intense preparation. Logistically, this can’t happen because we haven’t got enough bishops to confirm candidates in every parish on the same night! But, in all the dioceses across the world, there will be people being baptised and confirmed at the Easter Vigil service. At Chipping Sodbury, we will baptise two children at 9.30am on Easter Day – a first for many years! The Liturgy of the Eucharist will take place at all the Easter Day Eucharist’s across the Benefice. The bells are rung again, alleluias are shouted and sung to celebrate that Jesus has been raised to new life. Death and evil do not have the final word: God’s love does have the final word. Maundy Thursday 2 April Horton Church: 7.30pm Eucharist of the Last Supper followed by a 15 minute Watch. Good Friday 3 April Walk of Witness: 11am leave Yate Shopping Centre and walk to Chipping Sodbury. Old Sodbury church: 12 noon reflective service for Good Friday Chipping Sodbury church: 2pm Liturgy of the Cross Holy Saturday 4 April Little Sodbury Church: 8pm Easter Vigil Easter Day 5 April Chipping Sodbury church: 8am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Parish Communion with baptisms Horton church 11.15am Holy Communion (CW) Little Sodbury church: 6pm Holy Communion (BCP) Old Sodbury church: 6am Dawn Service (CW) 11.15am Family Communion (CW) 12


HOLIDAY HOME

Wild Geese You do not have to be good You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert repenting You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things. from Dream Work by Mary Oliver published by Atlantic Monthly Press

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Sodbury Vale Benefice Regular Weekly Events Monday

8.45am

Morning Prayer

St John’s, Chipping Sodbury

7.30pm

Bell Ringers’ Practice

Church Tower, Chipping Sodbury

Tuesday

8.45am

Morning Prayer

Church Centre, Upper Room,Chipping Sodbury

Tuesday

9.15pm

Stor'k'ies

St John's Church, Chipping Sodbury

Wednesday

8.30am

Morning Prayer

St John’s, Chipping Sodbury

Thursday

8.45am

Morning Prayer

St John’s, Chipping Sodbury

10.00am

Holy Communion

St John’s, Chipping Sodbury

7.00pm

Benefice Choir Practice

St John’s, Chipping Sodbury

7.00pm

Youth Club (age 11-18)

Baptist Church Centre

Friday

Note: No Morning Prayers on Bank Holidays

Sodbury Vale Benefice Forthcoming Events 10.30am 7.30pm 11am

8th 2nd 3rd

Mar April April

2015 2015 2015

12 noon 2.00pm 8.00pm 6am 5th - 14th

3rd 3rd 4th 5th

April April April April May

2015 2015 2015 2015 2015

May July

2015 2015

24th 3rd - 5th

Benefice Service Maundy Thursday Service Good Friday Walk of Witness

St James, Horton St James’, Horton Beginning at Yate Shopping Centre Service of reflection St John’s, Old Sodbury Liturgy of the cross St John’s, Chipping Sodbury Easter Vigil St Adeline’s, Little Sodbury Dawn Service St John’s, Old Sodbury Pilgrimage to The Holy Land led by the Info from Alison Vlach 01452 Ven Jackie Searle Archdeacon of 835583 Gloucester Benefice Confirmation Service St John’s, CS Benefice Retreat at Llangastry Retreat Info from Ian Yemm House

If you don’t see your event in the list above please let me know, once it is on this calendar other people can put it on theirs! All times are subject to change - look out for further details closer to the date. Michelle 01454 325160 sodburyvalebenefice@gmail.com

Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar March 2015 Sun 1st Second Sunday of Lent

Tue

Wed

3rd

4th

8.00am

Holy Communion

St John’s C/S

9.30am

St John’s Praise

St John’s, C/S

11.15am

Mattins

St James’, Horton

11.15am

Family Communion

St John’s O/S

6.00pm

Evensong

St Adeline’s L/S

9.15am

Storkies

St John’s, C/S

3.00pm

Meditation Meeting

Ring 312228 for venue

7.30pm

Horton PCC

Kirren House, Horton

7.15pm

Lent Course

Church Centre, CS


Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar March 2015 (cont.) Thurs

5th

Sun 8th Third Sunday of Lent Mon

9th

10.00am

Holy Communion

St John’s C/S

10.45am

Coffee Shop

Church Centre C/S

11.15am

Lent Course

Church Centre C/S

7.30pm

Chipping Sodbury PCC

Church Centre C/S

10.30am

Benefice Communion

St James’, Horton

2.00pm

Mothers’ Union Lent Meditation

Church Centre, C/S

7.30pm

Little Sodbury PCC

TBA

Tue

10th

9.15am

Storkies

St John’s, C/S

Wed

11th

7.15pm

Lent Course

Church Centre, CS

Thurs

12th

10.00am

Holy Communion

St John’s C/S

10.45am

Coffee Shop

Church Centre C/S

11.15am

Lent Course

Church Centre C/S

7.30pm

Old Sodbury PCC

Village Hall, O/S

Sun 15th Fourth Sunday of Lent Mothering Sunday

9.30am

Family Communion

St John’s C/S

11.15am

Morning Prayer

St James’, Horton

11.15am

Morning Praise for Mothering Sunday

St John’s O/S

6.00pm

Evensong {BCP}

St Adeline’s L/S

Tue

9.15am

Storkies

St John’s, C/S

3.00pm

Meditation Meeting

Ring 312228 for venue

17th

Wed

18th

7.30pm

Lent Course

Church Centre, CS

Thurs

19th

10.00am

Holy Communion

St John’s C/S

10.45am

Coffee Shop

Church Centre C/S

11.15am

Lent Course

Church Centre C/S

7.30pm

Church Wardens and Treasurers Meeting

Church Centre,C/S

9.30am

Mothers Union Coffee Morning

Church Centre, C/S

9.30am

Parish Communion

St John’s C/S

11.15am

Holy Communion {CW}

St James’ Horton

11.15am

Holy Communion

St John’s O/S

6.00pm

Holy Communion {BCP}

St Adeline’s L/S

Sat

21st

Sun 22nd Fifth Sunday of Lent. Passion Sunday Tue

24th

9.15am

Storkies

St John’s, C/S

Wed

25th

7.30pm

Lent Course

Church Centre C/S

Thurs

26th

10.00am

Holy Communion

St John’s C/S

10.45am

Coffee Shop

Church Centre C/S

11.15am

Lent Course

Church Centre C/S

9.30am

Parish Communion

St John’s C/S

11.15am

Mattins {BCP}

St James’ Horton

11.15am

Family Service

St John’s O/S

6.00pm

Evensong {BCP}

St Adeline’s L/S

9.15am

Storkies

St John’s, C/S

2.00pm

Tea and Chat

Church Centre C/S

3.00pm

Meditation Meeting

Ring 312228 for venue

Sun 29th Palm Sunday

Tue

31st

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Books for Lent 2015 Lent is a good time to put a bit of time aside and do some spiritual reading. I have selected some books that have come out for this Lent, in the hope that you might be tempted to buy one! I have put prices against each book and they can be bought through Amazon.co.uk/books. Alternatively, if you wish me to purchase a copy for you, then please let me know and sign the sheet in the back of your church. Jane Kenchington 1. The Lent Factor – Forty Companions for the Forty days of Lent compiled by Graham James who is Bishop of Norwich Price: £9.99; Kindle/e-book: £5.99 This book contains a different reading for each day of Lent. The readings are by a variety of people like Edith Cavell, Eva Peron, Charles Wesley, Rabbi Hugo Gryn. 2. Stations of the Cross by Timothy Radcliffe, OP. Price:£7.99; Kindle/ebook: £5.99 This is a slim volume with a thoughtful meditation on each of the 14 Stations of the Cross. The text is accompanied by stunning art commissioned by award-winning liturgical artist Martin Erspamer, OSB. 3. Seeing Jesus and being seen by him by Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry. Price: £8.99; Kindle/e-book: £5.39 “This profound, gently challenging book focuses grippingly on the face of Jesus. What does it mean and feel like to see Jesus and be seen by him? It is a question that leads the reader through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus and into…the deep, inexhaustible simplicity of being loved by Jesus and loving Jesus…” so writes Professor David Ford in the Foreword of the book. 4. Two books on Mark’s Gospel – which is the Gospel we’ll be following on Sundays through this year: Embodying Mark by Meda Stamper. Price: £8.99; Kindle/e-book: £5.39 This book invites you on a journey through the gospel, each chapter guiding you through key episodes, supplemented by related readings, a passage for prayer, words for contemplation and a range of fresh and imaginative exercises to help you respond, pray and live faithfully as a follower of Jesus. Meeting God in Mark by (former Archbishop) Rowan Williams. Price: £6.29; Kindle/e-book: £5.39 The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels and Rowan Williams attempts to present it in such a way that its clear and vivid style is accessible to everyone. “There could be no better introduction to this enigmatic but profound Gospel ” - writes Professor Morna Hooker, a scholar of Mark’s Gospel. 16


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