<strong>I’m going to start the Big Church Read and hope that some of you will join me. You can find out more here https://thebigchurchread.co.uk/</strong><strong> </strong>The Big Church Read is a way to get Christians to read the same book together and then take part in discussing the book. What it means, what we can take from it, and how it speaks to the Church today.Every Big Church Read kicks off with an introductory video from the author. Then you’ll get a reading plan that paces the book out over a 4 - 8-week period. There is no need to rush through the book. You’ll be reading it at a manageable pace. At the beginning of each week, there’ll be a new video that discusses the chapter or section you’re about to read. You can watch these videos on your own. Alongside all this will be free downloadable resource packs and questions for discussion.The best part is, aside from buying the book at a reduced price, all the resources and videos and guides are completely free. Once you have a copy of the book, you are ready to take part in The Big Church Read. If you would like to join a church discussion group about the content of the book please let me know. The book is about how to pray and is a simple guide for normal people to help them develop their prayer life. It starts w/c 24 May and we will sort out a time and day that suits everyone to meet online.
<div>The Union Jack is flying half mast at church and at 12 noon Saturday 10th April 2021 the bell rang 99 times, one for each year of Prince Philip’s life. </div> <div>Church is open Saturday 10th April until 4pm for private prayer and Sunday 11th April until approximately 4pm. Sunday 11th April there will be a special Eucharist of mourning at 10.30am. Monday 12thApril 4pm will be a service of Evening Prayer</div><div> </div> <div>Prayers you may find helpful to use</div> <div>Into your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brother Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. In this life you embraced him with your tender love and opened to him the gate of heaven. The old order has passed away, as you welcome him into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain, but the fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen</div><div></div> <div>Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding, surround the Queen and the Royal Family with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.</div><div></div> <div>Attached are some prayers and reflections on grieving and how Prince Philip’s death may affect us particularly as we have been through so much during this Covid pandemic. There will be printed copies available at church.</div>
<div><div><div data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_2ue"><div><div><div><div>Good news we are able to reopen for Sunday services on 14th March (Mothering Sunday). There will be the BCP at 9.15 and Common Worship at 10.30am. We will still need to maintain social distancing, sanitise hands, follow the one way system, sign in on the app or paper sheet etc, all of the measures we had in place previously. Singing is sadly still not allowed at present. The attached letter from the Local Health Authority outlines some of their concerns. It states:</div><div></div></div><div><div>'Additional care and attention needs to be given to ensure people do not socialise or meet and greet before or after prayers. We have had reports that whilst standards are maintained inside places of worship, the situation outside is of concern. Please urge your worshippers to respect the rules before and after services.'</div><div></div></div><div><div>Please can I ask that you arrive no sooner than 5-10 minutes before worship unless you are acting as sidesperson etc and respect the requests of the health authority.</div><div></div></div><div><div>Church will continue to remain open from approx 9-5 for private worship on Thursdays and Sundays. We will also continue to upload the services to You Tube and share via Twitter and Face Book for those of you who wish to continue worshipping at home for now.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
Daily reflections on Mark's Gospel for Lent
