Dear all
I was burning a handful of last year's palm crosses in the grate late this afternoon to create the ash needed for the Ash Wednesday services tomorrow. It is an annual tradition on Shrove Tuesday that many priests will be doing today! At the same time Michelle was cooking pancakes in the kitchen. Palm crosses are remarkably difficult to burn - they kind of smolder rather than flare, which is not very satisfying! As I was doing battle in the fireplace, suddenly there was a shout of 'fire!' from the kitchen! I glanced over my shoulder to see flames coming from the oven and a somewhat agitated wife! The baking paper under the pancakes had caught the oven element... Disaster averted, there was much laughter at the irony of it all. Perhaps next year I will do the pancakes and Michelle can make the ash... Although, the pancakes were lovely and much better than I could have achieved!
Those attending services on Ash Wednesday tomorrow are invited to receive a sign of the cross on their forehead made from that ash as a visual and symbolic reminder that without God we are nothing. 'Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return'.
I am always surprised how little ash a burnt palm cross creates (as opposed to a pancake...) They almost disappear to nothing, and so you need quite a few to make a meaningful amount. For me, that in itself is a powerful reminder of the journey we embark on tomorrow. The cross is such a powerful symbol, and as Christians our very identities are inextricably bound to it. So to see a palm cross burn and disappear to a few specks of ash is moving and reminds us of our own frailties and respective insignificance.
The power does not lie in the physical, material structure - but in the love and presence of God that exists and nourishes us from beyond our earthly limitations. We wear the smear of the broken cross on our foreheads and are reminded that Jesus defeated that mortal empty death and opened the way of eternal life to all who would follow him. Feast today; and tomorrow "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ."
Ash Wednesday - 22 February
9:30am - A said service of Holy Communion for Ash Wednesday. St Stephen's, Winsham. Rev'd Philip
7pm - Sung service of Holy Communion for Ash Wednesday. St John's, Tatworth. Rev'd Michelle
Sunday 26 February - 1st Sunday of Lent
8am - Said Holy Communion, St John's Tatworth
10am - Morning Worship, St Mary's, Thorncombe
6:30pm - BCP Evening Prayer, St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe
6:30pm - Service of Light, St Stephen's, Winsham
Lent:
Our parish lent walks start next week and continue through March as below. ALL are very welcome to come on the walks - which will not be too strenuous - and / or just catch up afterwards for the refreshments, reflection and prayer time!
2nd March 2:30pm - Winsham (Prayer in church from 4pm)
9th March 11am - Thorncombe (Prayer in church from 1230pm)
16th March 11am - Cricket Malherbie (Prayer in church from 1230pm)
23rd March 11am - Chaffcombe (Prayer in church from 1230pm)
30th March 11am - Tatworth (Prayer in church from 1230pm)
Lent Prayers
During Lent, Michelle and I will be saying morning prayer every Tuesday morning at 9.30am in St Johns Church, Tatworth. We warmly invite anyone and everyone to join us. We have recently been struck by how many people are carrying heavy burdens at this time and want to try and create a safe space where we can pray together for the people and situations that we are concerned about. As such, we will be using a set liturgy for morning prayer each week, but will include some space and time for us to bring our own concerns and prayers to God.
Hop to it
A message from Rev'd Michelle:
'I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored me for my skipping challenge. I have really appreciated it. The skipping is going well. I have done 100 skips each day in February so far, and can now almost manage the whole 100 skips without stopping for breath! I am definitely getting fitter! All the money I have raised goes straight to Cancer Research - a cause that I am sure is close to many hearts. So, thank you everyone and wish me luck - only seven days to go!!'
PRAYERS:
Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for:
Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Sheila Clement; Wendy Cotton; Hannah Knott; Jan Knott; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Dorothy White, Tony Meech, Di Nicholls, Hester Down, Stella Hutchison; Oskar Lee; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Frank Long; Jean Dodd, Cyril Larcombe.
A Collect for Ash Wednesday:
Holy God,
our lives are laid open before you:
rescue us from the chaos of sin
and through the death of your Son
bring us healing and make us whole
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings
Philip
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
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