Bowland Benefice
Pews News
8 January 2023

The Epiphany
Collect
O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to
the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
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.
This week in the Benefice
Sunday
8 January

10.30am Holy Communion in
Upton Snodsbury
10.30am Family Service in
White Ladies Aston

Friday
13 February

7.30pm Film Night in White
Ladies Aston
(see below)

Sunday
15 January
2 nd Sunday of
Epiphany

10.30am Benefice Holy
Communion in
Upton Snodsbury
Wednesday Morning Prayer
in St Nicholas, Peopleton

will take a break until the weather improves in the

spring.

Watch this space for news of its return.
Film Night in White Ladies Aston
On Friday, in The Parish Room, there will be a showing
of West Side Story -the 2021 version. Cost £5.00 to
include an ice cream. Please book your seat in
advance with Margaret Haywood (01905 345371).
Also, in The Parish Room, White Ladies Aston on
Monday 16 January there will be the first village Lunch
of 2023, from 12 noon to 2.00pm.
Please contact Margaret if you wish to attend.

Thank you

On behalf of everyone in the Benefice who has visited
one of our wonderful churches during the Christmas
period, a big thank you to all those responsible for the
beautiful decorations – the Christmas cribs, the
Christmas trees, the baubles and tinsel.
Thank you for the time, trouble and care taken.
Sunday is the Feast of the Epiphany when we
commemorate the arrival of the Wise Men.
Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
that we may find our journey’s end
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Plough Sunday

In many rural communities the second Sunday in
January is traditionally Plough Sunday.
The Church of England says, through its
EverydayFaith initiative….

The observance of Plough Sunday on the First Sunday
of Epiphany goes back to Victorian times, but
behind it there is a much older observance,
associated with the first working day after the
twelve days of Christmas, hence ‘Plough Monday’

in some places.

In the Middle Ages ploughs were sometimes kept in
the parish church, and some churches kept a
‘plough-light’ – a candle that burned over the
plough throughout the winter.
In days when work was scarce in winter, the
observance looked forward to the time of sowing
with the promise of a harvest to come.
Some Christian communities have reintroduced it as a
focus for asking a blessing on human labour near
the start of the calendar year.
Whilst Plough Sunday remains an important marker
for the start of a new agricultural year, this year we
are encouraging all churches to use this day to
mark the start of a new year of finding and
following God in everyday life: to celebrate and
pray for the work of cultivating God’s kingdom in
whatever we are called to do.
The Light of God surrounds me,
The Love of God enfolds me,
The Power of God protects me,
The presence of God watches over me,
Wherever I am – God is.