Bowland Benefice - Pews News
17 November 2024 2 nd Sunday before Advent

Heavenly Lord,
you long for the world’s salvation:
stir us from apathy,
restrain us from excess
and revive in us new hope
that all creation will one day be healed
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Week in the Benefice

Saturday
16
November

6.00pm

Christmas
Crafts & Baked
Potato
Evening,
at The Village
Hall, Upton
Snodsbury

Sunday
17
November

11.00am

Benefice Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

Monday
18
November

12 noon

Meet & Eat in
The Parish
Room, White
Ladies Aston

Sunday
24
November
Christ the
King

9.30am

Holy
Communion in
White Ladies
Aston

10.30am

Morning
Prayer in
Upton
Snodsbury

11.00am

Holy
Communion in
Peopleton
Last minute call for Christmas Crafts Evening in
Upton Snodsbury on Saturday 16 November….
it is not too late to enjoy the evening but please do
‘book a spud’ by ringing Janet (01905 381379) or

Helen (01905 381490).
The cost of the evening is £10.
Why not join friends and neighbours on Monday 18
November in The Parish Room, White Ladies Aston for
lunch of home-made soup, a pudding and tea/coffee.
The cost is £5 and please book by ringing Margaret

(01905 345371) or emailing
([email protected])
The Pub Nativity Play needs YOU!!
On 6 December at 6.00pm, The Crown Inn, Peopleton
will once again host this event in the pub garden.
Volunteers needed – both to act in the production
and to help behind the scenes too. Please contact
Revd Claire (07921 101320) or Scot Harrington (07743
723286) to volunteer or for more information. Scot
will be heading up this year’s production.

I am sure we are all aware of the terrible abuse case
that has caused Archbishop Justin Welby to resign – a
dreadful indictment of the Church of England and an
unholy mess. So, forgive me, I am including this in
today’s Pews News. It is a letter from Bishop Martin
Gorick, Bishop of Dudley, and suffragan bishop in our

Diocese of Worcester.
Bishop Martin writes……….

Like everyone who has read the Makin Review I was
deeply disturbed and saddened by the details it
contains, and its conclusion that the victims and
survivors of John Smyth were failed by the Church in
multiple ways over a number of decades. My heart
goes out to them, and I applaud the courage of all
those who contributed to the review, and for
pursuing justice all these years.

 

Archbishop Justin has decided to take his share of
responsibility for the failures identified in the review.
This must have been a very hard decision for him to
make and I feel it was the right and responsible thing

for him to do.

Despite his stated failings in this case, Archbishop
Justin has done much to champion progress in
safeguarding over the last ten years, in the Church
of England and other areas of our society, and I am

grateful for that.

The rigorous independent safeguarding audit from
INEQE recently been undertaken in our diocese gave
us much encouragement as we seek to build a safer
church and society for all. However, we mustn't be
complacent as we continue to remember that
safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
If you have been affected by the Makin Review and
would like confidential, independent, support, please
contact the Safe Spaces helpline. As well as the Safe
Spaces Helpline, there is the Diocesan Safeguarding
Team to contact safeguardingadvice@cofe-
worcester.org.uk or by ringing 01905 732800.

A Prayer

Lord God, Send your Holy Spirit
upon your people gathered before you.
Relieve the sufferings
of all who have been wounded
by the violence of sexual abuse.
Renew in your people
the firm resolve

to protect the weakest members of society,
especially our children.
Let us know your loving kindness
and help us to bring the healing and reconciliation

of your kingdom,

where you live and reign in union with the Son and

Holy Spirit
God for ever and ever. Amen.
(Diocese of St Petersburg, Florida)