Dear friendsIt has been a strange week as I have experienced Covid for the first time and isolated for the recommended 10 days. The virus is so prevalent now it is almost unusual to not know anyone with it. I'm so thankful for the messages of care and wishes for well being that you sent me - it really wasn't a pleasant experience, and I can only imagine how much worse the previous variants were, if these symptoms were considered mild by comparison!I missed coming to church terribly - even though it was only just over a week! I felt it particularly on Mothering Sunday - it must be over 20 years since I've not been in church on that day, and hearing the beautiful sound of the organ and choir from the vicarage was both a blessing and an affliction! I realise how much I value being part of the body of Christ, how much I love our church community, and how difficult it must be for those who are isolated for the majority of their time.At Morning Prayer this morning (held every Friday at 9.30am in the Lady Chapel) we all commented on how life giving it is to be able to spend time together, to grapple with scripture, to share how we're doing, and to pray together ... the coffee, croissants and crumpets afterwards are good too! We aren't meant to try to journey along our faith path alone, or to try to make sense of the world alone, or wrestle with our doubts and uncertainties alone. Perhaps now more than ever we need to find those spaces to talk, share, pray - when the world and it's needs feels as heavy as it does, and the reality of the pressures facing the most vulnerable even in our own parish are so severe, when we might feel at our most helpless: I think now more than ever our identity as the body of Christ is key.I love that Church is the place where this can happen. Church is the place where we exist as family in it's truest form: different ages, points of view, life experiences, stages of faith ... all within an understanding of God's love for the whole world as found in Jesus. I pray that you will continue to find and know your place within the body of Christ. To know that you are needed, valued, loved and accepted. I pray that in these final weeks before Easter we can journey towards that moment where we renew our baptism vows and remember again who we are in Jesus, who we are as the body. Why not plan to come along to the various services in Holy Week, beginning with our gathering on Palm Sunday, to pilgrim together. Why not also consider coming along to Morning Prayer on Friday mornings, if you are able to do so. You are welcome in all of these places.In the meantime we gather this week at 8.30am and 10.30am, this week with Sunday Spirit, our thriving Sunday school for primary school aged children. At 10.30 I will be with another part of our Deanery family at St Barnabas, where I will take our greeting to them.With every blessing Becky
Hi all,It’s been quite a week! This week has taught me, even though I felt I knew this before, that Covid is very much still around. After testing positive last Thursday, I am glad to say that today I finally feel like I’ve turned a corner and starting to feel much better. I so appreciate all who were in touch to wish me well, it did mean a lot. I also appreciate your patience as we have had to make last-minute decisions with gatherings and meetings, but we hope and trust you understand the tricky circumstances. As Becky also has covid so please keep her in your prayers.It also feels great to be sitting outside and writing this message, I hope you have also had time to enjoy the lovely sunny and warm weather this week.We continue with our Lenten pilgrimage and as I listened to Lectio 365 (a brilliant prayer app) last Sunday as I couldn’t join you, I was reminded it was just 4 weeks to Easter Sunday. I wonder if it is a good time to take stock and see how you have found this Lent journey?Do you feel eager and ready for Easter Day? Eager to focus on the risen and triumphant Jesus?Or are you still needing the space to focus on the stripped-back nature of Lent?How have you found the Lent groups? As I have met with the Young People it has been amazing to have deeper conversations about decisions and choices and to hear their opinions. I do pray this has been the same for you.If you gave something up for Lent, how is it going? I have found staying off social media whilst I have been ill very hard- I won’t lie!However you are finding Lent, I do pray it has been an opportunity to turn to and lean on God.We continue this week with our worship and Lent pattern. Rev Simon Taylor will be leading a said Eucharist Service at the 8.30 am, I will be presiding at our All- Together Communion at the 10.30 am and I am pleased to say Chris Dursley will be sharing a reflection from Scripture. Please note that I have decided to postpone the 4th at 4 this month, we will meet back in April.During the week there are also other opportunities to gather and connect with each other and God. I am pleased to say that on Monday 28th we are gathering again for Contemplative Community. We have slightly adapted the format in that we havegiven space for a chance to chat and share with each other before we pray. Join us at 7 pm for half an hour of conversation and at 7.30-8.15 pm we will have Contemplative Prayers. Please do feel free just to join at 7.30 pm for prayers if you feel comfortable doing so. This is a space to come and sit in God’s presence, focusing on silence and contemplation as you are led through simple liturgy and prayers. There will also be a creative instillation to look at and focus your prayers if you wish.Lent groups continue this week on Monday evening at Paul and Becky Wearne’s house, Tuesday evening for young people and Wednesday Morning at church. We pray that these have been another space for you during your Lenten journey. Please also check out the Lent booklet on the emails to follow along with the material.Hope to connect with you on Sunday or over the coming week With prayers,Laura
Dearest friendsAs I write this, the sun is beautifully bright and it feels warm ... as I look out on my back garden, the rhyme "Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where my garden is" feels very appropriate!There are so many signs of spring, hope, light and beauty around us. If you walk along the path next to the church hall, you will see a wonderful Spring garden has been developed, and even in those places that just a couple of weeks ago may have looked a bit forlorn, the determination of the Spring bulbs has resulted in pockets of colour and fragrance.I don't know about you but I need this reminder of hope breaking through. The outpouring of love and generosity towards those seeking safe haven from the Ukraine feels like a sign of God at work through his people, which couldn't contrast more with the violence and destruction reigning over the country of Ukraine. Many people are asking what they can do to help. Various pieces of advice are coming in from the national church, and from our own Bishop Viv, and we will aim to send the latest information out in Monday's email. There is the "heart" response, of course, but this needs to be tempered with the head, "wise" response of what is the best and most appropriate each of us can offer. Our Gospel passage this week reminds us that we are not helpless, so I hope you will join me in continuing to pray about how to respond, as well as the ceaseless praying for Jesus, Prince of Peace, to be known.I also need to be reminded of hope when numbers of those infected with Covid remain high. It is almost more unusual now to hear of people who don't know someone with the virus. I'm thankful that hospital admissions remain low, but that doesn't diminish the impact for those who are experiencing anything from exhaustion and flu like symptoms, to a slight cold, to being symptom free but inconvenienced by having to self isolate. It is not easy.As a church we have not escaped the impact this weekend, which means our 10.30am service is not a Eucharist this week, and instead will be a service of Morning Prayer with hymns led by Chris Dursley and Steve Purnell. I'm so thankful that they have been able to step in at short notice, and I hope that you will support them in what is likely to be a beautiful service. For those who would like to receive communion, we will have our usual 8.30am traditional Eucharist service.So I continue to pray for you all, as well as the 7500 souls that live, work and rest in this wonderful parish. I pray each of us can reflect something of God's light, love, and hope, in the coming days.With every blessing Becky
For anyone who would like Holy Communion, you are all welcome to our 8.30am service, and at 10.30am we will have Morning Prayer with hymns. We look forward to seeing you there.<br>
