Bowland Benefice
Pews News 21 January 2024
Third Sunday of Epiphany

Collect
Almighty God,

whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,

and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024
This Week in the Benefice
Sunday
21 January

11.00am Benefice Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

Monday
22 January

7.30pm Illustrated talk
in The Parish
Room, White
Ladies Aston

Sunday
28 January
Presentation
of Christ in
the temple
(otherwise
known as
Candlemas)

9.30am Holy
Communion in
White Ladies
Aston
10.30am Hymns and a
Prayer in
Upton
Snodsbury
11.00am Holy
Communion in
Peopleton
On Monday at 7.30pm in The Parish Room in White
Ladies Aston, Paul Haywood will give an illustrated
talk on The Secrets of Sutton Hoo. The cost for the

evening is £5.00.
A Thank You from us all….

After many years of helping with the preparation of
our Bowline magazine, Jeff Smith has handed over his
responsibilities to Andrew Vickers.
We thank Jeff, (supported of course by Kathleen at his
side) for the many hours of work and care he has
given so generously for the magazine and community.
We wish both Kathleen and Jeff a very happy

‘retirement’.
A plea for help

During this cold spell, the demands on our local Food
Banks are greater and people’s needs even more
urgent. If you can, please do remember the local
Worcester and Pershore Food Banks as you shop or
send a donation. Details of particular requirements
and how to help financially are on their websites.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024
18 January to 25 January

The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best
known passages in the Bible, yet one that never
seems to lose its power to challenge indifference to
suffering and to inspire solidarity. It is a story about
crossing boundaries that calls our attention to the
bonds that unite the whole human family.
In choosing this passage of Scripture for the Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity, the churches of Burkina
Faso have invited us to join with them in a process of
self-reflection as they consider what it means to love
our neighbours unconditionally in the midst of life in
the 2020s with all the present warmongering, civil
unrest, disaster and distress everywhere.

A Reflection
We are good because we are loved,
not loved because we are good.
We are loved,

but God wants us to give some love back,
giving and receiving in a mutual relationship.

Love makes us better.

Being in a relationship with God means being with
other people, doing some good.
Looking after creation.
It means being fair and not exploiting others.
It means giving and not taking.
It means being alongside not overpowering others.
It even means welcoming and respecting the stranger
in our midst since the stranger may be the Christ

unannounced.
A Prayer for this week
Barrier-breaking God,
you embrace all cultures and lands,
but keep a special place in your heart
for the stranger,
the widow and the orphan.
Grant us the gift or your Spirit
that we may become as You are,
welcoming all as brothers and sisters,
your cherished children.
Citizens together in Christ’s kingdom of
justice and peace. Amen.
A reminder

The Prayer Pilgrimage led by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Justin Welby, Saturday 3 rd February 2024
will be in our locality as follows:
12.30pm. Prayer lunch at Pershore Abbey.
(Bring your own picnic.)
2.15pm. At the Cathedral.

An interview with the Archbishop followed by worship
and prayer in various prayer stations.
All are welcome.

During the day prayers will concentrate on the Church
of England’s strategic priorities. And there will, of
course, be prayers for peace and justice throughout
the world in 2024 and beyond.