Bowland Benefice Pews News – 8 March 2026 3 rd Sunday of Lent - Collect Eternal God, give us insight to discern your will for us, to give up what harms us, and to seek the perfection we are promised in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This week in the Benefice Friday 6 March 7.00pm for 7.30pm Colour My World In The Parish Room, White Ladies Aston Sunday 8 March 10.30am Holy Communion in Upton Snodsbury 10.30am An early celebration for Mothering Sunday in White Ladies Aston Wednesday 11 March 2.30pm Lent Group meets in The Parish Room, White Ladies Aston Sunday 15 March Mothering Sunday 10.30am Mothering Sunday Service in Upton Snodsbury 11.00am Benefice Holy Communion for Mothering Sunday in Peopleton 4.00pm Joyful Mothering Sunday Service in Broughton Hackett Last call for Colour my World! Just a few tickets left for this Friday’s evening of entertainment with the White Ladies Aston Singers. £10.00 a ticket to include supper. Please contact Margaret on 01905 345371. Mothering Sunday comes early to White Ladies Aston this week. Enjoy an uplifting service in the beautiful St John the Baptist with all the signs of Spring-time. Revd Claire tells me the Lent Group is going strong and is proving to be a very enjoyable and thought- provoking hour or so! It is not too late to join in. You will be made very welcome. Chris Holloway, who has lived in Peopleton for many years and is a longstanding member of St Nicholas congregation, has moved into Stonebow House. She would love to welcome friends for a chat. To continue the simple and short meditations about prayer for Lent - here are the next two. Fifth of ten thoughts during Lent about ‘praying’ There is something special about a small, smooth stone. It lies in the hand, calming and holding you in the moment. Next time you hold a stone, ponder on its age, colour, history and who else has held it before, as you are doing. As you become still, bring the concerns of your heart to mind and ask for help. Sixth of ten thoughts during Lent about ‘praying’ From natural disasters to human brutality and inhumanity, bad news comes thick and fast and there often appears little we can do to stop or resolve it. Why not take a moment or two to reflect on the day’s news headlines? Allow your mind to settle on one particular story. As you read, meditate on it and ask God to help take away suffering and fill those feeling abandoned with love and hope. This sixth thought is so relevant as we have watched and listened to the news this week. When will it all end? O God of mercy and tender compassion, We cry out to you in this time of crisis. Hear the cries of the people across the Middle East. Bring healing to those suffering from violence and comfort to those mourning the dead. O God of Hope, sustain those who labour for peaceful and just solutions. Inspire leaders and decision makers to choose the way of peace over the way of violence. Deliver all your children from the threat of war and teach us to encounter one another with reverence and love. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ Who came to bring to peace on earth And who abides with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. Our Annual Parochial Church Meetings take place in the next few weeks as follows: Peopleton: 25 March at 7.15pm in Church Upton Snodsbury: 1 April at 7.00pm in Church Broughton Hackett: 13 April at 7.00pm in Church White Ladies Aston: 14 April at 7.00pm in The Parish Room The Electoral Roll for each parish, which is made up of church members and gives the right to vote at these meetings, are being revised. If you don’t know if you are on the electoral roll or feel it is now the time to join, please do have a word with a Church Warden or PCC Secretary to obtain an application form.