Dear friends

As another week draws to a close, and another weekend arrives, with it's promise of gathering together to worship on Sunday morning, I wonder how you are feeling about the circumstances we are living in? Close to home, covid cases continue to rise, and only a short distance away, war continues in the Ukraine. It can feel overwhelming, and I have to confess to limiting my tuning into the news coverage. We might also feel helpless in our ability to respond, either because we don't feel there is anything we can, or because our capacity to respond, alongside all the other things going on in the world, in our country, even in our own lives or those of our friends and family, feels limited.

The initial invitation to respond by donating to the DEC humanitarian appeal last week resulted in almost £300 cash donations through church services and other sources, and I know some of you have made your own donations online. Thank you. Our contribution to the fund that is helping those who most need it, on the ground, can make a difference.

Our ability to pray is also a mighty weapon, for peace keeping and peace makers, for limitless compassion, for resilience and capacity for those who can help practically. But as we acknowledged in Morning Prayer this morning, sometimes there are no words, and our pray is simply a sigh - please God, be God. And of course, as we pray, prayer changes us. For if we pray that God will reveal to us the world as He sees it, and people as He sees them, even for the revelation of what our prayer should be, we may discover there is something we can do, in the way we live our lives, in the way we speak to and about others, in the way we seek solace or company ... and for us as a Church, as a way to be the Parish church for the 7500 souls that live in our parish. How can we reflect the light and love of Jesus, Prince of Peace?

There will be the opportunity to find space to pray on Monday in church, from 4pm until 8.15pm. With different areas in the church with prayer pointers, or even simple activities that may help you engage with prayer, or the solemnity and stillness of praying in the Lady Chapel, there is something for all ages and all preferences available to support you in the way you pray. For those who enjoy praying corporately, or who may have specific prayer needs that they will to talk about, there will be a prayerful conversation between 7 and 7.30pm, before a space to gather for contemplative prayer from 7.30 - 8.15pm. Even if you simply would like to come and light a candle, please come. This is God's church, and your parish church, and it is a sacred space in which people have prayed for many many years. Why not come along and join your prayers with theirs?

As we look forward to gathering on Sunday morning, just a reminder that we have a traditional said Holy Communion service at 8.30am, and Cafe Church at 10.30am: the informal space for talking around tables, as Jesus often did. Cafe church includes breakfast pastries, worship and prayer. This really is suitable for all ages

and all faith perspectives, and is a space for the 'praying', 'learning' and 'growing' characteristics I have spoken of in recent weeks.

Finally, we met as a PCC on Wednesday evening and reviewed our Covid protocols. The PCC have decided that our 8.30am Communion service should remain a space where mask wearing and social distancing remains the expectation, for the time being. At 10.30am, mask wearing is optional for all services, including when singing, and there is an opportunity to use notices on seats either side of you if you would prefer to maintain a social distance.

It is hoped that in having one service every week where protocols remain in place, those who are either more vulnerable, immuno-compromised, or have a preference to be in a gathering where everyone will be wearing a mask, will feel their needs are met.

I continue to hold you in my daily prayers With every blessing
Becky