We received with great sadness the news of the death of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. He has served our country selflessly as the Queen’s husband and consort since their marriage and her accession to the throne in 1952.He has shown genuine concern for the future of our country, through his interest in the environment, wildlife, education, and by ensuring we are at the forefront of scientific advancement. He was a keen sportsman, seen until recently behind the reins of a horse and carriage around Windsor, one of his favourite pastimes since 1970s, and a sport which he helped expand and promote.While our monarchy has its formal and solemn side, Prince Philip has shown a forthright wit and sense of humour and has helped the monarchy adapt and embrace change over the years.The Queen described him as her rock and he has been a major stabilising influence throughout her whole reign. He will be sorely missed.A Prayer for the Duke of Edinburgh.'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ (Matthew 25.21)God of majesty, give rest to your servant Philipwho, having served his Queen and Country,has passed from this life, full of years yet strong in spirit.As we give thanks for his life, as Prince and husband, as Consort and family man, we pray that all that he has done may continue to bear fruit in the lives of individuals and the life of this nation, to your honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.You are welcome to send you message of condolence online using the Church of England's link: https://www.churchofengland.org/remembering-his-royal-highness-prince-philip
At Noon on 23rd March 2021 join people from across the nation as we stop for a minute and remember all those who have died in the COVID Pandemic.REFLECTLoving God, You hold all our times in your hands, our past, our present, our future. Be close to us now as we remember all the difficulties and disappointments of the past year. Be especially close to all of us who are thinking of someone we loved and knew, but see no longer, whether family, friend, colleague or neighbour. Help us to trust that they are at peace with you, and comfort us with your presence.CONNECTLoving God, You place us in families and communities, and we give you thanks for all those around us who serve us and help us in so many ways. Give wisdom to community leaders, to our schools, hospitals, care homes and other agencies who make a difference to our lives. Help each of us to have the courage to reach out with thanks and kindness to those around us and to speak words of faith as we share the good news of your love.HOPELoving God, As we journey towards Easter, help us to live as people of hope, knowing that beyond the pain of the cross lies the joy of resurrection. Inspire us in our worship, through our churches and in our homes, that we may bring glory to you and joy to others. Be with those who are struggling in mind, body or spirit, and give courage to those who are facing uncertainty and change ahead. Help each of us to keep our eyes fixed on you, that we may reflect your light to all whom we meet.
Whilst many of our churches will have a service on Mothering Sunday, because of COVID these will be 'low key' affairs, and it means that we won't be able to provide flowers to give to their mothers, or to those who have played a mother’s role in their life. If you’re preparing for Mother’s Day at home, it can be a good time to help children learn about God’s love for them too, which is also like a mother’s love. Here are some things to do together as you think about that love:• Make a few pom pom chicks, (you can save them for Easter Day as a table decoration): see: www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/easter-craft-ideas.html •Ask your child who the chicks’ mummy is. If you like, you can talk about how they are born from an egg. •Talk about how a hen protects her little chicks by hiding them under her wings. She feeds them and holds them close to her to keep them warm and safe. •Think about how God’s love is like this. We are like God’s little chicks and God wants to keep us safe too, just like the hen. •Why not play at being hens and chicks together, spreading out arms and gathering underneath them? •At home, you can also read one of the Bible stories that has a mother’s love at its centre – for example, the story of Moses. A mother’s love is so special it’s worth celebrating, but some people may find Mother’s Day difficult for lots of different reasons. Some people may not have a mother who they see any more. She may have died, or they just never knew her. Some parents find Mother’s Day sad because they have lost a child and still grieve. As well as celebrating the love of mothers, we will always remember that Mother’s Day can be difficult as well, and will include some special prayers during the service. Revd Mark is happy to offer a confidential listening ear and prayer if that is something you would like.
Pancake Day, Lent and Holy Week are all part of the journey to Easter Day, the biggest Christian celebration of the year.It is a time when lots of people make time to think carefully about their life. For Christians, this means trying to live God’s way and remembering all that Jesus did.Why we have Pancake DayPancake Day is also called Shrove Tuesday and is one last chance for a big party before Lent begins with Ash Wednesday the next day.Long ago, Christians traditionally used up all the eggs and fat they had in store by making pancakes and feasting on them. This was because when Lent came, they would eat less food, or even fast (do without food sometimes) to help them focus on God and not on the things they wanted. This tradition has been passed down the generations.Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter, a date which changes every year. This year, we’ll be eating our pancakes on 16th February, before Lent begins on 17th February. With eggs, flour, milk and butter, anyone can join in with Pancake Day.Why is Lent important?Lent is a time of getting ready for Easter.When Jesus was just getting started with his work, he went into the desert for 40 days to be all alone with God. He even went without food and prayed, and was tempted away from what God wanted him to do in all kinds of ways, but he resisted that temptation. You can read that story here in the Bible: Matthew 4:1-11.During Lent, Christians often do something different too, like praying every day or reading the Bible. This reminds us of Jesus’ time in the desert to focus just on God and feel closer to him. The good news is that Sundays are still celebration days – so you can take a break from fasting! The last week of Lent is called Holy Week – during this time, the church remembers Jesus’ death on a cross.Even young children can take part in Lent. For example giving up a sweet treat every day might remind children that we can live more simply.Our churches in LentChurches may look quite different during Lent. You might notice the colour purple, or there may be very few decorations or flowers. This is because it’s a time to concentrate on God and remember how Jesus gave up his life on a cross to save all of us.Because Lent is a time to reflect, church music and songs will tend to be more reflective and services won’t ever include the word ‘Alleluia’ – a very joyful word to express praise for God.It’s a big contrast when Easter Day arrives, when the colourful decorations come out, there’s lots of celebration, ‘Alleuias’ and joyful music! – And hopefully if COVID restrictions begin to be eased we may even be able to gather together and enjoy a special Easter Celebration Service!Some of our churches are now reopening, so if you have the chance why not go along to a church service in Lent and play a game of spot-the-difference – how is it different to other services you have been to? Then go at Easter and play again! Talk about how each service feels and why they have these different moods.
