Bowland Benefice
Pews News 26 February 2023
First Sunday of Lent
Collect
Almighty God,

whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the

wilderness,

and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to

your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
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
26 February

9.00am Holy Communion in
White Ladies Aston
10.30am Hymns and a Prayer
in Upton Snodsbury
11.00am Holy Communion in
Peopleton

Tuesday
28 February

7.00pm Lent Course
continues at The
Crown, Peopleton
(see below)

Friday
3 March

2.00pm World Day of Prayer
at The Pershore
Baptist Church (see
below)

Saturday
4 March

10.30am Coffee Morning
At Pump Cottage,
Cowsden
(see below)

Sunday
5 March
2 nd Sunday of
Lent

10.30am Family Service in
Upton Snodsbury
11.00am Holy Communion
6.00pm Evensong in White
Ladies Aston
On Tuesday at 7.00pm the Lent Course continues at
The Crown in Peopleton. If you weren’t able to make
it last week, please do go along for the second of the
six sessions. More information from Revd Claire.
The annual World Day of Prayer on Friday 3 March has
been prepared by the Christian women’s community

of Taiwan.

On 4 March, a coffee morning from 10.30am to 12
noon at Pump Cottage, Cowsden. Betty and Helen will
make you very welcome and you can enjoy coffee,
cakes and a chat with friends and neighbours. Raffle
and bring and buy to raise money for St Kenelm’s

rotten church floor!

A Thank You

Thank you to everyone who contributed in whatever
way to the magnificent sum raised at White Ladies
Aston’s coffee morning for the Ukraine on Saturday 18
February. With the PCC’s matched funding a total of
£1164.67 will be sent to help the country as it faces

year 2 of the conflict.

There are plans to hold a similar coffee morning for
the Turkey/Syria earthquake appeal in April. If you, as
an individual or through your business or through the
company you work for could/would consider matched
funding please contact the coffee and raffle team by

emailing:

[email protected]

Worcester Diocese issues a prayer diary every quarter.
It covers and prays for in turn all the parishes in the
Diocese and any special events or initiatives that are
being marked and celebrated. It is certainly a way of
keeping in touch with and finding out about fellow
Christians across Worcestershire. It is available in
churches in paper form but if you would like an
electronic version of the Diocesan Prayer Diary it can

be found on the link below:

https://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/prayer-diary/

The Season of Lent
began with Ash Wednesday last week.
Historically the Church has called us to prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving at this time.
Lent is a penitential season – a time to remember,
maybe to regret, to forgive ourselves and others and
to reflect on our commitment to Jesus and the Church
he founded all those centuries ago.
The world seems a broken and sorrowful place
wherever we look so maybe in 2023 this season has
even more importance for those who profess the

Christian Faith.

I don’t know where I am going but I will travel well
when my hand is held in yours.
First of ten thoughts during Lent about ‘praying’
The first and last thing we ever do is breathe.
It’s important and means we are alive!!
In eastern mysticism, different faiths and western
religions, for centuries, breathing has been a way of
connecting us – the created – with our creator.
By concentrating on our breath in quiet moments we

can get closer to God.
To breathe is to pray.

Second of ten thoughts during Lent about ‘praying’
Smile and the world smiles back. Your smile for
someone conveys a wish of wellbeing and a silent
‘thank you’ for them and for all they mean to you.
A smile received is very likely a smile returned, with

the warmest of wishes.
Prayer is entwined with your smile.
Send out love today.