Lent will start on Ash Wednesday, 6th March, and this is traditionally when churches offer a study course. This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, the great poem that we recite every communion service which explores what we and virtually all Christians have believed over those centuries. The Apostles Creed is a shorter version of this which we use at Morning Prayer. To celebrate this anniversary and also to understand more about the basis of our faith, this Lent the Highley and the Brown Clee benefices will work together to look at the creeds. We will follow a course developed some years ago entitled; Pilgrim: The Creeds Book 5 (Grow Stage) by Jane Williams, Paula Gooder, Stephen Cottrell, Steven Croft, Robert Atwell, Graham Tomlin, Martyn Snow, Mary Gregory - Paperback - 9780715144442 The cost is £4 from Church House Publishing, if anyone wishes to buy a copy of the book, although this is not necessary to follow the course.For those who wish to join an online group, we will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm by Zoom, starting on Wednesday 12th March; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3592851895?pwd=cksyL0t5TlhFUURRenpxMG9yQTVhUT09.Meeting ID: 359 285 1895 Password: 512607The courseAsh Wednesday, 6th March, In church - join us for our Ashing service.Week 1, beginning 10th March; What are the creeds?Week 2, beginning 17th March: God as TrinityWeek 3, beginning 24th March: Jesus, fully God and fully manWeek 4, beginning 31st March: Crucified, risen and ascendedWeek 5, beginning 7th April: The Holy SpiritWeek 6, beginning 14th April: One holy, catholic and apostolic church Maundy Thursday, 17th April, church service.
I once forgot Mothering Sunday. It only happened once; I still carry the memory... Mum didn't say a word to me about it; I only found out because a week or so after an uncle pointed out to me that she had noticed the omission. He suggested a suitable form of remediation; I can't remember what it was but all I know is that it worked and Mum was delighted. Mothering Sunday has a reputation amongst vicars as being a potentially difficult day for a service. It should be a celebration, but for some it is not. It can stir unhappy memories, it can reignite grief. I am fortunate that neither apply to me; I got on well with Mum when she was alive and now enjoy good memories. I gratefully accept any bouquet of flowers that I am given at Mothering Sunday services and tend them on her behalf. But perhaps the most important thing for me is that it reminds me what I learnt from the day I forgot it; the importance of attending to detail for the sake of others, the grace I was shown by Mum when I forgot. Thanks Mum!
We are delighted to welcome the Rev Kina Robertshaw as our new rector, who was formally installed as rector of all the parishes in our benefice on April 18th. Kina was previously Associate Minister at Bromyard where she gained considerable experience of working in rural communities. Kina was born in Angola and left home at 17. She was a successful entrepeneur in the fashion industry until she started to train for full-time ministry. She carried out research on Christian entrepreneurs for a master's degree and has co-authored a book on the subject. Kina can be recognised by her broad smile, her enthusiasm for meeting and talking to people and her dog, which she takes for walks. For those who want to know more about Kina, her website is Kina Robertshaw